Chapter Six: Riders
A/N: Hello, everyone. Back for another chapter. Just so know about it, I might exaggerate things in Alagaësia a bit. At first this chapter was rather long, and so was the next one, but I had to switch around some things.
sawa255: I'm glad to have another reader on board and reviewing. Thanks, and I'll try to keep the great chapters coming. Hope I don't disappoint.
ShadowCub: Yes, dragons like Saphira are a very good thing. However, there's still Murtagh and Thorn and Aro and his dragon. You'll all find out the name quickly. I have plans for Murtagh and Thorn that may include mates and possible true name changes. And one more member of the Cullen family will become a Rider because it'd be a tragic crime if they didn't. Can ya guess? Anyhow, I really like how C. Paolini made the elves so "one with nature"; they remind me of my ancestors. Also, because I know some people may be getting restless, action will be coming soon.
WolfDragonGod: Glad you reviewed again; thanks.
caradens: Thanks, and I know you weren't knocking it. I was just saying.
yurianimelover1: Okay, just to let you know, your review is my favourite so far besides caradens' first one and ShadowCub's. I'm glad you took the chance to read this. I probably should let people know in the summary that this is not based on that awful excuse of a movie. I completely agree with you about the movie! I was so excited to see one of my favourite books put into a live action movie, but as usual movie producers disappoint. They disappointed so hard with that movie, and I was so pissed. It almost made me want to write them a letter filled with verbal abuse. And C. Paolini for letting them do that to his amazing book! I bet he was mad too though. Anyhow, thanks for the respect and the compliment. I really enjoy this fic, and it's so much easier to write than my other two. I know for a fact that this one will be finished before them. Also, I didn't want to take the approach of Bella going to Forks from Alagaësia because that would have been much less exciting than this plot. The Cullens were easier to add to the "Eragon" world than I thought. None of them started off as Riders in my head, though. That came when I actually started writing. I was just gonna have Alice be told that her mate was in a different dimension and the Cullens go with her because they love Alice. This way's better. As for the sun-crotch thing, I wanted to try my hand at the futa/hermy plot, and it gave me a valid reason to mention Brom as Bella's father. But thank you for the kudos very much.
lynettecullen: You are definitely one of my favourite readers. I'm glad that you read this story and took the time to review each chapter. Thank you so much for your awesome support. Also, the fact that Brom is Bella's father came from the Eragon series cuz he's actually Eragon's dad.
To all my other readers who don't review but let me know you're there with alerts and favourites, thank you all for reading this story. Now, I'm going to stop rambling now. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Twilight belongs to S. Meyer, and the Inheritance Cycle belongs to C. Paolini. If I owned either, they'd be an awesome crossover like this one, and the movie would NOT suck!
Alice's POV
Our path ends at a net of roots that form steps. We climb to double doors set in a wall of saplings. I feel my heart speed up as the doors swing open, of their own accord seemingly, revealing a hall of trees.
"Wyrda!" some type of bird caws from somewhere inside as the doors close and I notice the guards behind them.
Hundreds of branches meld together to form the honeycombed ceiling. Below, 12 chairs are arranged along each wall. Twenty-four elf men and women sit in them; lords and ladies, I'd guess. Each of them looks wise, beautiful and handsome, with faces unmarked by time and keen eyes that gleam with surprised eagerness. They lean forward, gripping the arms of their regal chairs, and stare at us with shocked confusion and much hope. Unlike the few elves we've seen already, these have swords, belted at their waists—hilts studded with beryls and garnets—and circlets on their heads. At the head of the assembly stands a white pavilion that shelters a throne of knotted roots. On it sits an elf that is obviously Queen Islanzadí. She's extremely beautiful, like Natalie Portman or Keira Knightley, proud and imperious with two dark eyebrows slanted like Lunam's wings, lips as bright red as black cherries, and jet black hair bound under her diamond diadem. You can just barely see the pointed tips of her ears peeking out from her hair. Her tunic is blood red; around her hips hangs a braided gold girdle, and a white feather cloak is clasped around her throat falling to the ground in languid folds. By her left hand is a curved wood rod with a crosspiece. A brilliant-white raven perches on it, shuffling impatiently from foot to foot. He cocks his head and surveys my family and I with too much intelligence for a bird, then gives a long, low croak and shrieks, "Wyrda!"
Bella, Rhunön, and Saphira stop before the elf queen, in front of us. The two-legs bow at the waist, while Saphira bows her head slightly. Rhunön and Bella touch their first two fingers of one hand to their lips and twist their arms over their sternums in a weird gesture. The three of the two-legs exchange words in the Ancient Language, and then Rhunön moves to stand on the queen's left, Bella and Saphira on her right. The queen observes each of us unobstructed then.
"Have you had words with Lord Gilderien, your majesty?" Bella asks, quietly in English.
"I did, and I trust his knowledge and trust of Angela." Islanzadí replies, just as quiet. "However, these new Riders are untried. How long did Nasuada give you here?"
"A week and a half, but I'd really rather get to them sooner rather than later, lest Murtagh and Thorn show up while I am gone." Arabella answers.
"Good. If these creatures are what I believe them to be, then they shall not need so much time to be brought up to yours and Saphira's level. Rhunön Svit-kona, I will accompany you to awaken the Menoa tree for the brightsteel after I get them settled." Islanzadí states.
"Your majesty." Rhunön bows, but pauses a moment and adds, "If you would bring the two parents and Arabella and Saphira. Once we get the steel, the smallest one and her parents shall help."
Then the older-looking elf woman bows again before leaving the way we came.
Islanzadí then turns to us and asks, "What are your names?"
Carlisle steps forward and bows. "Your majesty, I am Carlisle Matthewsson, of House Cullen, and this is my family." He proceeds to point us each out and give our name. "My wife, Esme. Our children, or rather adoptive children, Rosalie, Emmett, Edward, Jasper, and Alice. Rosalie and Emmett are mates as are Edward and Jasper."
"And you are vampires, are you not?" the queen questions.
"We are." Carlisle nods.
The lords and ladies gasp along with Arabella.
"I had thought as much. I was not alive when your kind had landed here, but I know of you." She states. She gets up and walks gracefully to stand in front of our dragons and says, "Please forgive my ignorance of you, brightscales, but what are your names?"
Each of our dragons project their answer one at a time.
"Interesting… All of you join me, and we shall seek Oromis and Glaedr." The queen says as she begins to walk away. "Blagden." She calls, holding out an arm.
That white raven flies over to perch on her left shoulder while Arabella, Saphira, my family, and I follow her out to a large hill that turns into a really high cliff overlooking the forest. The cliff runs for miles in north to south and drops a thousand feet to the forest below.
Thud.
Just then the air shudders from the force of a concussion.
Thud.
Another dull blow makes my teeth chatter just slightly and my ears ring from the pressure on them. Wingbeats and very loud, very big ones at that. From beneath the edge of the cliff, a huge gold dragon rises with a Rider on its back, buffeting the ground with huge gusts of wind.
Thud.
Bright as the flaming sun, the dragon hangs before us all, hitting us with powerful eddies from its might wings. The dragon's body looks to be on fire as the brilliant afternoon sun illuminates its golden scales and peppers the ground and trees with dazzling chips of light. He's far larger than Lunam, even Saphira or both of them together, and proportionally thicker in his head, neck, limbs, and tail. The Rider on his back sits with startling white robes, contrasting sharply against the brilliance of his scales. These are Arabella and Saphira's mentors, I think, a feeling of awe surging within me. As the dragon turns to land, my family and I gasp; his left foreleg had been severed, somehow, by a terrible blow, leaving a helpless white stump in place of a once mighty limb. Tears fill my eyes as Lunam and I feel rage and sadness.
A whirlwind of dry twigs and leaves envelopes the hilltop as the dragon settles on the sweet clover and folds his wings. The Rider carefully descends from his steed along the dragon's intact front right leg, then approaches us with wide eyes and an astonished expression. He's an elf with long silver hair, old beyond measure, though his only sign of age is the great compassion and sadness in his eyes behind the shock. He really reminds me of Carlisle, just much much older.
"I had not dared to believe it!" the elf's soft but deep voice intones as he looks intently at my brothers, me, and our dragons.
"Oromis-ebrithil, Glaedr-ebrithil," Bella says, getting their attention as she bows to them and twists her arm over her sternum again, "these vampires are from a different world. They were summoned here by Angela who somehow found the eggs that hatched for those three. She sped their growth, but they are untried."
"I know the full stretch of this tale, Bella Svit-kona. This mysterious friend of yours sent me a letter by bird but minutes ago. She has already informed me that I can bring them up to speed in our allotted time, that they have three Eldunarí to them, and the dragons fly nearly as well as Saphira does now." Oromis announces, serenely.
Carlisle steps forward then, removing that book he is supposed to give to Oromis. "I was told by her to give you this." He hands it over.
Oromis grasps the book and looks at the title, eyes widening again as he reads aloud, "The Autobiography of Eragon!"
Islanzadí gasps, shocked.
"She also told me to tell you that she found it locked away and buried beneath Vroengard. That it will help Arabella's riddle from Solembum." Carlisle adds.
Oromis smiles then smiles. "I very much seem to forget my manners. I am Oromis, and this is my dragon, Glaedr."
Well met, vampires and kin. Glaedr rumbles with an impossibly deep voice. Who might you all be?
Carlisle and Esme step forward, and she introduces them. "I am Esme of House Cullen. This is my husband, Carlisle. We are the surrogate parents of the rest here."
Glaedr and Oromis nod respectfully at the both of them.
Lunam and I step forward next. "I am Alice Esmesdaughter, of House Cullen and companion to Lunam." I tell them, adopting Esme's title.
And I am Lunam daughter of Miramel, companion to Alice. My dragon states.
We each bow our heads, accepting their greetings before stepping back.
"I'm Jasper Carlislesson, of House Cullen, husband to Edward, and companion to Nahele." Jazz says next.
I am Nahele; my sire was Galzra, and my companion is Jasper. Nahele says.
They back up to let Ed and Alaula introduce themselves.
"I am Edward the Third Carlislesson, of House Cullen, husband to Jasper and companion to Alaula." He says, softly.
And I am Alaula, daughter of Lenora and companion to Edward. His dragon adds.
"I'm Rosalie Esmesdaughter, of House Cullen, and wife to Emmett." Rose offers, shyly. (shocking, I know)
Emmett grabs her left hand and says, proudly, "I am Emmett Carlislesson, of House Cullen, and husband to Rosalie."
"Well met, all of you. Now then, Arabella, I want you to read this book soon at some point in time, so you may find the answers you seek. Also, you need not come to my home until eight o'clock tomorrow. You six, dragons and Riders, come; we will start your training immediately." Oromis smiles, kindly, while handing Bella the book.
Carlisle raises his hand like a student and asks, "Lord Oromis, if I may have a moment; I need to measure Edward and Jasper for their swords."
Oromis nods, patiently, and Carlisle advances toward my brothers. He pulls from his pocket the knotted piece of twine, given to him earlier by Rhunön and takes numerous measurements of their hands and arms.
"They shall be back an hour before sunset. Islanzadí, please have Vanir wait at the courtyard to lead them to Rhunön's forge. Come, new Riders and dragons; we have much to discuss." Oromis says, climbing onto Glaedr's saddle.
Ed, Jazz, and I quickly follow suit with our dragons. Then all our dragons are rushing off the cliff and into the air.
Bella's POV
After they fly away, Islanzadí leads us all back to the city. She makes for Tialdarí hall, where guest are lodged. Inside is even more beautiful than the outside, just as I remember, and as usual Saphira must keep her tail in check as not to scrape across the wonderful garden in the gates. The queen weaves us through to the apartments near Arya's, while Saphira waits patiently outside the building. In the hall are only four doors, including Arya's.
Islanzadí points out two of them at the beginning of the hall, "Carlisle and Esme, you may put your packs in there; it will be your apartment for the duration of your stay here in Ellesméra. You will find a bundle of clothing in there for you. The same applies to you, Rosalie and Emmett. All of your old clothing will be picked up to be destroyed. Once you are all done dressing, we will go wake the Menoa tree. Your other three family members are Riders, and as such will be housed in the Rider's Glade."
Once she's finished each couple goes into their respective apartment. They're not even in there for five minutes, but each comes back out garbed in our raiment. Carlisle and Esme both wear white tunics trimmed with gold, green breeches, and new black ox leather boots. Emmett and Rosalie wear gray tunics trimmed with gold, lighter green leggings, and new black ox leather boots also.
"We are ready, your majesty." Carlisle states. At my bewildered look, I'm sure, he adds, "Vampires are a bit faster than elves."
"Well, then, I'm sure I should have stayed with Master Oromis and Master Glaedr, for I know nothing of your kind." I tell him.
"Do not worry, Shadeslayer; your mentors will fix that. The vampires were not here for long in any event, but there is a scroll about them, and I'm sure one of your fellow Riders can tell you about them. We had doubted they would be back after their mysterious disappearance." Islanzadí says, softly, and then she turns to the vampires. "We look forward to testing your abilities. A new race in Alagaësia will not seem so bad with the good ones here. Now, we needs must get Rhunön her metal. After that is set, you shall accompany me to the armory so you may choose a sword, other weapons, and armor. Come."
With that she leads us away.
Alice's POV
After the eight of us launch into flight, we all follow the white cliff northward for several miles, accompanied only by the sound of wind, wings, and heartbeats. We land in another clearing situated on the edge of the cliff, just before the wall of exposed stone crumbles back into the earth. A bare path leads from the precipice to the doorstep of a low hut grown between the trunks of four trees, one of which straddles a stream that emerges from the moody depths of the forest. Glaedr wouldn't fit inside; the hut could've easily sat between his ribs, though.
"Welcome to mine and Glaedr's home," Oromis says as he alights on the ground with uncommon ease. "I live here, on the brink of the Crags of Tel'naeír, because it provides me the opportunity to think and study in peace. My mind works better away from Ellesméra and the distractions of other people."
He disappears into the hut, then comes back with four stools and flagons of clear, cold water for all of us. My brothers and I sip our drinks while our dragons take droughts from the stream before coming to sit with us. We all admire the spacious view of Du Weldenvarden, content to let the elf speak to us when he wants to. Our dragons crouch calmly and quietly behind each of us too.
Then he says, "You all are as patient as Arabella."
"We're all nearly a hundred years old and used to live in a world where humans didn't know of us; we had to learn patience, but essentially we like a fast pace. Alice is actually rather impatient." Edward grins in response. "It's natural for all vampires though."
Hey! I yell at him in my mind, knowing he heard me, by the quirk of his lips.
Oromis nods with a small smile, "True enough. Let me see each of your hands one at a time please. I find that they tell me much about a person."
I sit straighter and allow the elf to grip my wrists with thin but strong fingers.
"Correct me if I am wrong about anything." He states then begins, "You have never wielded a sword, only drawing and art tools. You are a magnificent artist and carpenter."
"Yes. I love to craft." I state with wide eyes.
"You love nature and animals, but animals previously would not come near you because of what you are."
"Yes. Animals always have better self-preservation skills than humans." I agree again, sadly.
"Well, they will not have a problem with you now, for you are a Rider. Beyond that, you are confident in your near infallibility when you fight."
"I am because I have visions of the future." I reply, past my initial shock now.
"And you do not enjoy surprises." He says.
"Not really. When you can see the future, you become accustomed to knowing what's going to happen. I don't like that being disrupted." I tell him.
He just nods, drops my hands, and grasps Edward's. "You have held the sword of an ancestor, but never actually used one. You can play many musical instruments, though you favor the piano more than any other."
Ed's eyes light up as he says, "I do."
"You are moon-crotch, and you are excited to reproduce with your mate now that you are able."
Edward blushes slightly but nods.
"You always know what others' immediate thoughts are, and you are faster than others of your kind."
Edward nods again, and Oromis moves on to Jasper. The elf's eyes sparkle with respect.
"Ah," he says. "A soldier you are. You have fought with many weapons that you shall never see here in this land. You have fought briefly with a sword, but you excel in hand-to-hand combat. I am most impressed."
"Thank you, Oromis, sir." Jazz says, proudly.
"Not sir," Oromis corrects. "You may call me master in this tongue and ebrithil in the ancient language, nothing else. You will extend the same courtesy to Glaedr. We are your teachers; you are our students; and you will act with proper respect and deference." He speaks gently, but with the authority of someone who expects absolute obedience.
"Yes, Master Oromis." The three of us acquiesce.
"As will you all, Lunam, Nahele, and Alaula." He adds.
I can feel how hard it is to unbend her pride enough to say, Yes, Master, with the other dragons.
Oromis nods, "Now, Jasper, it seems that you enjoy history a lot, and you are a logical man as well as a brilliant war tactician."
Jasper agrees with him.
"Well, then, I'll say that each of you has much catching up to do, but not too much. I shall teach you more of magic and the ancient language. I will also teach you of the history of Alagaësia. Once your swords are finished, Arabella will teach you to sword fight properly." Oromis states, serenely. "But overall, Glaedr and I will teach you what it means to be dragon and Rider."
Glaedr adds, And I will teach Lunam, Alaula, and Nahele all they must know of their race. You all must keep your connections to each other open so that you may all be attuned to what your partner is learning. Come, dragons; we start.
With that Lunam, Alaula, and Nahele fly off the cliff with Glaedr. Once they're out of sight, Oromis stands from his chair and motions for us to as well.
"Magic, swordsmanship, and other such skills are useless unless you know how and when to apply them. This also I will teach you. Now, remove your shirts. Let me see what you all are made of."
My brothers and I remove our shirts, leaving me in my black lace bra, standing straight and squaring our shoulders. Oromis circles each of us, one by one, before returning to stand in front of us.
"Each of you looks like a statue as defined as your muscles are, which you have a more than fair amount of. You each are ambidextrous, are you not?" Oromis says.
We all nod. He then gives us a series of stretches to do which we complete easily.
"Good. You are better than Bella was when she started, but I'm sure that is natural of your race. That will save us much time." He comments.
As we stretch I can sense Lunam and the other dragons going through stretches, poses, and aerial acrobatics I've never seen before. However, they contort every foot of their sinuous lengths in amazing ways.
"I am not sure how powerful Angela is, but I am glad that she is with us and not against us." Oromis says as we end our stretching and reclaim our seats. "Now, let us see what Fundor, Ohen, and Vanilor have taught you so far."
For the next four hours, Oromis questions the little we know about the ancient language, magic or gramarye as its called, and swordsmanship. My brothers and I also pay attention to our dragons being taught about dangerous weather patterns and how to avoid them and about fireweed, which helps their digestion. We know, nothing of the plants and history of this land, but much of woodworking, medicine, and metallurgy. Around 6:30 Oromis leads us into his hut to eat dinner. His home is bare except for the few necessities for food, hygiene, sleep, and intellectual pursuits. Two whole walls are dotted with cubbies that hold hundreds of scrolls. Next to the table we sit at hangs a golden sheath—the same color as Glaedr's scales—and a matching sword with a blade the color of iridescent gold on Glaedr's neck and a yellow diamond for a pommel.
On the inner pane of the door, set within the heart of the wood, is a flat panel one hand high and two wide. It depicts a beautiful, towering city built against an escarpment and caught in the ruddy light of a rising harvest moon. The pitted lunar face is bisected by the horizon and appears to sit on the ground like a maculate dome as large as a mountain.
"Where is this? Is it another elf city?" I ask, gazing at the amazing artwork.
"Yes, it is. That was once our city of Ilirea. It was burned and abandoned during Du Fyrn Skulblaka, our war with the dragons, and became the capital of the Broddring Kingdom and now is the black city of Urû'baen, where Galbatorix resides. I made that fairth on the night that I and the others were forced to flee our home before Galbatorix arrived." Oromis replies, eyes sad again.
"And you painted this…fairth?" I ask, interested.
"No, we still paint, but I did not. A fairth is an image fixed by magic upon a square of polished slate that is prepared beforehand with layers of pigments. The landscape upon that door is exactly how Ilirea presented itself to me at the moment I uttered my spell." He answers.
"Ah." I say, preferring my way of painting.
He opens a series of cupboards hidden within the curved wall and removes breadrolls and bowls of fruit, which he rows out on the table. He begins to eat and motions to for us to do the same. While we all eat, Oromis tells us of the events leading up to and happening in the war. I feel Lunam and the others return, but they stay to themselves to drink water and rest. When Edward asks why elves don't eat meat, as we finish, Oromis tells us that meat is not a necessity but a cruelly harmful extra course of an animal we don't need to kill. Once we are done, Oromis picks several scrolls from the cubbies until he's amassed a big pile.
"These are history texts, the Liduan Kvaedhí, which is the writing for the ancient language, and a dictionary of the words we know in the ancient language. Read these tonight and tomorrow if you must. Tomorrow morning, though, you all will be taught the Rimgar by Bella. And you shall be sent to meditate one at a time. Also Bella, Glaedr, and I will teach you to put up and keep up barriers in your mind so only yourselves and your dragons will be connected. When you all leave the Crags, you will all who are fighting go with Bella and Saphira and Vanir to the training field for swordwork." He says.
We all go outside, and I put the scrolls into Lunam's saddlebags. Our mentors question each of us about our companion's lessons. We all pass due to paying attention, and they dismiss us. Ed, Jazz, and I climb into the saddles on our dragons, but before we can fly off, Oromis stops us.
"Alice Svit-kona, tell your father and mother to visit Faniri of House Mildr to learn to make dragon saddles when they have the chance tomorrow." He says, politely.
"Yes, Master." I reply, kindly.
With that Nahele, Alaula, and Lunam leap from the Crags of Tel'naeír and wing their way back to Ellesméra. It's now just about to be sunset. When we arrive back at the clearing we'd first came to, ten minutes later, I spot Islanzadí, Emmett, and Rosalie waiting for us. Our dragons land, one after another, and Ed, Jazz, and I hop effortlessly to the ground without them crouching. On closer inspection, I notice that both of my other siblings are wearing summer Alagaësian livery and armor. Over his short-sleeved tunic and breeches, Emmett wears a gleaming steel breastplate, silver bracers and greaves, and mail backed gauntlets. Under his left arm is a silver T-Face helm, and a heavy war hammer hangs under a strong, brown leather belt around his waist. The armor looks elegant but deadly on my brother's hulking form, and the helmet reminds me of the gladiators. The hammer is 38" long with a polished red oak shaft and a black leather wrapped grip. One side of the huge weapon's head is a round cylinder of steel with a four inch diameter, while the other side narrows out to a wicked-looking, curved spike. The whole head is eight inches from end to end. Emmett grins a toothy grin and hefts the hammer, easily, when he sees us looking.
My eyes move to Rosalie. She, too, wears a gray short-sleeved gold-trimmed tunic and light green breeches. Over that she has a steel cuirass, spaulders, bracers, and a cuisse. Her weapon of choice is a beautiful longsword with a tan sheathe, connected by a diagonal frog to her own belt. The hilt is hand and a half and sports a sharp, pointed pommel made of steel. The crossguard is slightly curved at the ends and is a gold color. Rosalie also holds a helm, but it's a nasal T-Face.
"Nice." I smirk in approval.
Edward and Jasper agree.
"Thank." Emmett and Rosalie grin.
"Your Majesty." Ed, Jazz, and I bow our heads to the elf queen.
Lunam, Nahele, and Alaula follow our sentiments.
"Argetlams; bjartskulars. I will be guiding you to your quarters. The rest of your family will reside in Tialdarí Hall while the three of you will stay in the Rider's Glade as that is your station." The queen replies before setting off.
She leads us to a glen of six trees with a large field of healthy green grass in the middle. The tallest of the trees is directly across from us. She takes us to the one beside us, which is also across from the tallest tree. The trunk is ridged with a delicate looking staircase that spirals up to a series of cubed rooms cupped and suspended in the tree's crown by a spray of branches.
Islanzadí lifts an elegant hand and points to the aerie. "You needs must fly there, Nahele and Alaula. Our stairs were not grown with dragons in mind. This glen housed the active team of Riders and their dragons while in Ellesméra. Jasper and Edward, I would not keep you apart. You may put your bags and saddles in your bedroom and meet me back here."
Edward, Jazz, and their dragons hurry to do as the queen suggests. She turns to me as Emmett and Rose look around.
"Now, Alice-elda, which tree do you want? I gave your brothers this one because it was meant for coupled Riders and dragons." Islanzadí asks.
I shrug, "When Bella and I realize our matebond, I and Lunam will stay with her and Saphira. That will be tomorrow night. Until then, I'll stay with my brothers."
Islanzadí adopts a stunned expression as her eyebrows raise high, "Oh?"
"Yes." I state.
"And how do you know that Arabella is your mate?" she asks, skeptically. "You have obviously not looked into her eyes because from what I remember of your kind, I would not have met you until tomorrow."
"Alice can see the future." Rosalie states with disguised cynicism.
The queen's eyebrows rise higher, almost disappearing into her ebony hairline. "Oh my! That is amazing!"
"Yes." I say with a small smile as I start up the stairs to my brothers' tree. "And it will help us end this war."
Lunam follows her kin to the top. The bark beneath my feet is smooth and flat from the many feet to walk on it, but it's still part of the trunk, as are the twisting slatted banisters by my side and the curved railing that slides under my left hand. When I reach the top, I climb through a trapdoor in the floor of the main cubical vestibule. A pedestal in the center has a dragon statue protruding from the top. Lanterns ring the room, illuminating three screen doors leading from the vestibule. I carry my pack into the door across from me, which I know to be the bedroom. The room overlooks, and is open to, the wide expanse of Du Weldenvarden.
A teardrop gap, large enough for a dragon larger than Glaedr is cut into the outer wall. There's a large, white-sheeted bed, situated so one can watch the skies while lying on their back; a fireplace made of gray wood that feels hard and cold as steel when I touch it, and a huge low-rimmed bowl set in the floor and lined with soft blankets where the dragons can sleep. Before dressing we all take our dragon's saddle off and place them near the fireplace. Each of them sits patiently while their Riders change. Edward and Jasper don light green, gray-trimmed tunics and white breeches with black ox leather boots. I put on a white, gray-trimmed tunic, yellow breeches, and black ox leather boots with socks that are so soft they feel like liquid when pulled through my fingers. As for underwearr, they give the boys an Alagaesian versian of briefs, which are just a little looser but still stretchy. I get a simple leather bra that buckles and soft cotton panties that are like boyshorts in shape. I don't have any problem seeing them naked since we all go skinny dipping a lot, plus we're gay! We all then head back to the ground.
A/N: I don't know if I mentioned, but I'm sorry it took so long to get this chapter up. Hope you all enjoyed, and I look forward to you telling me what you think in your reviews. So, explanation time for the armor as I'm sure at least some of you have no idea what everything is.
A cuirass is just a front and back breastplate.
Spaulders are shoulder and upper arm plate armor.
A cuisse is thigh armor, front and back.
As a rule, I much prefer plate armor to chain mail on people. Also, if you've noted, this is not beta-ed, so if anyone would like to do that for this story, I'd be much obliged because I keep finding problems after I've posted. By the way, the banner for this story, made by CeCeAsh is also posted on my profile. I will be making the Cullen and Zandír(Bella's House) families' coat of arms as soon as I finish them. Next chapter should be up soon. Peace out!