Chapter 8: The past over a campfire
Talos didn't feel the need to sleep yet so he sat and began to talk Ithiriel, "So where do you come from Ithiriel?" He asked her. Ithiriel drew in her breath and let it out in a deep sigh. "I am of the Mirkwood. It is about three hundred and twenty-five miles north of Minas Tirith. And of you? Where do you come from?" Talos shrugged,
"I am one of the rider's from Alagaesia." He answered. "I am from a human town called Tierm." "And what is this Tierm like?" Talos again shrugged, "It is a fishing town. Naturally it is dependent on the fishing trade. I however preferred the mountain range known as The Spine to the sea. I hunted often. One day…an Elven dragon rider by the name of Mara flew into Tierm and requested most of the village youth's. I was included. She presented Dova's egg to each of us and it hatched for me. We were immediately taken to the rider's headquarters and began training."
"That must have been rough having to leave your home like that?" "It was actually quite easy. I had begun to live on my own and was seen as an oddity as I did not like fishing. Leaving Alagaesia was much more difficult. I thought I would not see it again."
"Until you returned."
Talos nodded. "Aye. Until I returned. What about you Ithiriel? Have you seen your Mirkwood since you left it?"
Ithiriel smiled. It was a sad smile that hinted that there was some sort of history behind the memory of Mirkwood. "Nay. I have not seen the Mirkwood in some years."
"Why not?" Again Ithiriel smiled sadly,
"It simply is not the time for me to do so." Talos knew she was hinting at the fact that she was not ready to deal with whatever memory she was not telling him. "When will it be time?" Talos asked. Ithiriel shrugged,
"Who can say? Maybe a week, maybe a year, maybe a decade. One day though before I die I shall return to The Mirkwood." Talos nodded staring at the ground.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ithiriel glance at him, "What of Tierm? Do you think of it often?" Talos shook his head, "No I don't believe I shall ever set my eyes on Tierm again. I have become more accustom to the seemingly endless forest of Du Weldenvarden and the forest cities of the elves."
"You live with the elves of your land?" "Aye." Talos replied, "With the Rider Queen Arya." "The Rider's have a queen?" Talos laughed,
"No I spoke badly. Forgive me for that. Arya is the queen of the elves and she is also a rider." "Has your master Eragon taught her?" Talos was a bit hesitant in his answer, "I…am not sure." He said, "They fought together to overthrow Galbatorix The Mad and they were close friends but I am unsure if they have met since they last saw each other." "A bit of history there?"
Talos nodded, "I believe he was in love with her but she did not feel the same. He was never quite clear on the details and I would not dare attempt to wrestle the truth from his mind."
"A wise choice I'm sure. And what of you Rider? Do you care for someone in Alagaesia?" "No." Talos sighed,
"No I have not met anyone that I believe I would mind spending my life with although there is a fellow rider I know that is like my sister to me. Ithiriel leaned back and rested on one elbow her fist supporting her head and she looked at Talos, "What is she called?"
"Tira." He answered, "She is something rare. Half human and half elf. There has been no one of that kind in Alagaesia. She is the first."
"What is she like?" Ithiriel asked,
"She is cheerful. Like an elf she enjoys nature, unlike an elf she eats meat."
Ithiriel interjected, "The elves in Alagaesia do not eat meat?"
"No." he said, "They cannot bear the thought of eating an animal whom they have shared thoughts and therefore lives with. So they only eat in only the direst circumstances."
"I see. But I have interrupted. Continue describing this…Tira."
Talos smiled and began describing his best friend. "She always knows how to cheer you up whether you are grumpy or depressed. She enjoys hunting but will make sure to use almost every part of the animal she can. She's impulsive but that is tempered by her dragon and she is kind-hearted."
Ithiriel smiled as she read the young humans expression as he described Tira, "You're quite fond of her aren't you?"
Talos smiled, "Yes." He said, "She is."
"What is her dragon like?"
"Dalen?" he asked, "He is a dark green dragon. Like his rider he is very cheerful but has a seriousness to him as well as a short temper. He's overprotective of her and his voice is strangely lighthearted as if one were listening to a harp." "That is strange."
Ithiriel said. She looked up, "The night grows old." She said, "Rest Rider. I will awaken you when it is your turn to stand watch."
