Chapter 7

Gil'ead

We arrive in the darkness of night and Alduin plants himself down on the mountain beside it. "What now?" He wonders as we stare down at the fortress.

"I don't know. Wait..." I spot Saphira's shiny scales further to the left. "I'll be back, you stay here and let me know if you see Eragon." I run over to Saphira slipping on moist rocks and moss then stumble in front of her. "Okay. This is going to be a hard conversation." I say scratching the back of my head. "We need to get Eragon out of there so...uh...be ready for anything." I give her a thumbs up sign and scamper back to Alduin.

"Didn't you ever have a pet?" He asks as I creep down beside him.

"I did. It was a calf. But my dad, being the butcher, decided it had better uses than my entertainment." I reply. "I've got to get in there." I move to Alduin's saddle and take the black cloak from my pack. Then I take my bow.

"You have the look of a hunter." He says as I tie my long hair back into a plait.

"Good, I would hate to look like a damsel in distress." Alduin laughs then nudges me as I make my way down the slope.

I move through the crowds with my head low, no one stops me which is a good sign. Suddenly as, I reach an area away from the crowds, I'm stopped by someone in a black cloak with a bow. He rips the hood off me and stares down at me. A certain darkness weaves around him and that's more than his looks, dark hair and eyes with pale skin like some sort of corpse. "You shouldn't be here." I take out my bow and grip and arrow in my fingers gently.

"I know. I'm looking for a friend." His lips curl into a smile as he sees me arm myself.

"There's no need for that. I know where he is." I raise an eyebrow at him dropping my arrow back into the quiver.

"Will you take me or is there a price?" I wonder as he chuckles softly.

"Isn't there always one. But I'll talk to you about it later." He says turning and walking me through the fortress. I hear a yell, one so familiar yet I can't quite tell who it belongs to. "Was that your friend?" He asks looking back. I ready my bow looking around as we walk up the staircase.

We make it to the top and stare down into a room as three people limp out of one corridor and king's men from the next. I raise my bow and fire at the men that belong to the king. "Alduin..." I whisper and can hear the roar from here. I hope it's one signalling his rescue rather than a painful death.

Another cry and the ceiling explodes with dust and stone. Saphira drops in at the ready. I continue to fire at the kings men. "Alduin! Anytime now!" Suddenly I hear a sharp pain something burns right to my core.

"I'm sorry my little Rider, I won't be able to make it...he as wounded me." A tear slides down my face. I grit my teeth and let another arrow fly hitting a guard in his gooey eye. The archer beside me seems stunned by this new rage.

"Who Alduin?" I ask as my leg buckle and my quiver empties.

"A shade...Durza." I run not like I would if I was scared not like I would if I was terrified...the speed you run when you know you can reach a loved one in time to save them.

Alduin lies with blood dripping from his scales. "Alduin..." I whisper crawling beside him.

"Theresa." He wheezes. Blood around his head and neck.

"How? Who? Just...don't die Alduin. I won't let you." Alduin nudges me then groans. "I...I don't know any magic...I never thought I'd need it." I whimper the hear the crack of a stick behind me. I turn about to ready my bow when I realise that I'm without arrows.

"Don't worry, I'm here to help." It's that archer...I better learn his name in case I have to hunt him down and kill him. "A dragon..." He whispers amazed by Alduin.

"Can you help him?" I ask quickly.

"I know magic, I'll do what I can." I look away from the bright light as he whispers a chant. I curl up lying against Alduin's stomach, tearing dampen my face as I rub his underbelly. I hear the archer/mage chant some more and the words beat into my mind like drums as I close my eyes and sleep.

How do you wake to a corpse? How do you live with yourself as you realise it's over...he's one? ... I didn't have to answer those questions. Alduin nudged me his jet scales sleek and new no blood or scars. The archer lay asleep a few metres away but I tackled him in a hug. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" I cheer as we roll back to Alduin.

"I think your friend is dead." Alduin says tilting his head to look at the archer. I let him go and scuttle back to Alduin rubbing his nozzle and hugging him.

"Don't mention it." I hear the moan.