Disclaimer: Okay, here's Chapter Eight. You figured that out, right? I really hope you did. Otherwise, I'd be mad you could not find your sense of direction, and that would be disastrous. However, I am not in charge of your sense of direction. Same thing goes for the outline of this story.
Eragon: Okay, you might as well be lost in this studio.
Me: Eragon, you know. I sometimes wish that, in the story, Galbatorix's soldiers come out of nowhere and cut you up to bits. Or maybe even a horde of Ra'zac would suffice. You could be very obnoxious sometimes.
Murtagh: [Walks through studio door] Hi, guys!
Me: [stares at Murtagh] How'd you get in here?
Murtagh: Oh, I just asked the receptionist. She showed me the way here from the front desk. [sips from mug]
Eragon: What's in there?
Murtagh: Oh! Yeah, I was getting to that. This... is a wonderful drink... called... coffee.
Me: [face-palm] Okay, first of all, coffee is bitter. How many sugar cubes did you put in there?
Murtagh: [thinks for a moment] Err... I think seven-and-twenty.
Me: [surprised] Wow... I just hope you don't...
Murtagh: Whoa! What's that? [runs up to floodlights and tapping on glass bulb] And that! [runs to microphone, inspecting elements] Oh my god!
Me: [face-palm] go hyper... Okay... Orhiz!
Urgal Worker: What?
Me: Just roll the story!
Orhiz: Okay. May as well keep having him keep crashing into furniture then.
Chapter 7: Reunion and Siege
Eragon did not tell anyone about his dream. Only he and Saphira knew the full details of the dream due to their bond. He had longed to tell Brom, just like the account of Saphira. But Eragon was unsure if Brom would explode like the Teacher and tell him to forget it, or if the Father were to comfort Eragon with words. Eragon didn't take the chance, because he was uncertain.
Are you to tell Arya? Saphira asked through their mental link.
Do you remember the talk when Arya woke me up? Eragon replied. I thought I was not to presume such 'inadequate' things.
No, Saphira said. Does she need to know. She may be the one regarding your fortune; most likely actually, and she also may be the one who will leave Alagäesia with you. Also as well as anyone here.
And the two dragons in the sky? I think someone also has to be left behind.
Eragon thought about the dream; the first he had received since he had been linked to Saphira. One would be left behind. And the dragons. For sure, Eragon knew one was Saphira, and for the other one, it may as well be the green dragon. As for the man crying out on the beach, it could be anyone.
The dragons landed at the edge of the Hadarac Desert. Jubilant, Saphira soared into the desert air, after convincing Thorn to come with her. Murtagh got a fire going and Brom came back from the forest with two large rabbits.
As the three had their dinner, Brom looked up from his food. "So, how are we exactly going to cross the Hadarac?" The old man asked. "We doubt we have enough water to cross that expanse of sand."
Eragon and Murtagh stared at each other, grinned, and got up. The dug a hole in the sand, and commanding: "Adurna rïsa!" at the same time. Water trickled into the hole the Riders made. Brom looked at the puddle, lowered a waterskin into the liquid and drank out of it. Pleased, Brom said, "Well, I hadn't thought of that."
Eragon grinned and said, "Then again, Saphira likes the Hadarac do much we could probably clear it in a fortnight."
And at that moment, Saphira and Thorn returned from their flight. Thorn landed with an explosion of sand, the sediment cascading onto the Riders. Brom spit out some sand before saying, "Can someone make another water puddle again? This sand is irritating in my beard."
Only three times did Eragon need to supply water, and three time were the waterskins refilled. And by the next evening, the Hadarac Desert was navigated by the second time. They were near the city of Furnost, situated on the lake Tüdosten.
"So we go to Furnost," Murtagh said, "then past Melian to the Burning Plains, correct?" Eragon nodded. "If I am not mistaken, Furnost was one of the king's supporters, since much trade flourished there under Galbatorix's reign," Murtagh added.
Brom chuckled. "Yes, it seems you've gotten smarter too. I just hoped Roran thought more of you. Sadly, he won't."
"Yet we need provisions," Eragon said. "And Furnost is the only city for leagues around. Apparently, you and Brom don't look too elf-ly like me, and an elf is sure to cause suspicion."
"So it is going to be Neal an Even again?" Brom asked.
"Maybe," Murtagh said, rolling his eyes. "Thorn, listen to Eragon. He knows how to stay out of sight."
I'm not listening to him, Thorn said, turning away.
You will listen to my Rider, Saphira commanded, baring her teeth. Thorn snorted and retreated into the trees.
"I guess thank you, Saphira," Murtagh said.
Saphira dipped her head as Murtagh ran after Brom into the city. Eragon and Saphira followed to where Thorn headed into the trees.
Thorn lay on the ground, head on his paws, in a small clearing. It was a used campfire, since the logs have been moved to make seats and a circle of stones surrounding a small smokeless fire. Eragon knew Murtagh and Brom wouldn't be back immediately, so he talked with Saphira.
I don't know why Thorn is so... defiant sometimes, he said. It's almost as if he thinks himself as a wild dragon.
Saphira blinked. He listens to me just as easily a servant to a master.
Maybe because you relieved him of an infinite life of solitude.
Solitude was, and still is, one of the worst fears of life. You remember how Glaedr lamented Oromis' death. Eragon digested the thought. He remembered Glaedr thinking out loud: Gone. Gone! GONE! Alone! It was enough for Eragon to shed a tear, grateful that it had not happened to Saphira. Yet.
But isn't there another reason that Thorn could have changed?
Maybe Murtagh changed him with a series of tasks; similar to the ones during tuatha du orothrim. He did that until Thorn said no, either that or keep doing the exercise. Now, he only considers the consequences before doing things.
At that moment, Eragon whirled around at the sound of rustling leaves and branches. Amazed, he found Brisingr locked in a cross with Murtagh, Zar'roc in hand; blocking with the pommel.
"Hey, Eragon," Murtagh said, "Next time, look before you chop somebody's hand off." The two separated their swords and sheathed them.
"Well?" Eragon asked. "How'd it go?"
"Fast," Brom said. "Amazingly too. But the merchants there eyed us weirdly before accepting our money. With Murtagh's hair messed up, they barely recognized him even with Zar'roc at his belt."
"Wow, are they clueless," Eragon laughed.
"Laugh more if you wish, but they may come after us if you are too loud. They would certainly profit from three Riders and two dragons."
"The only way they would succeed would be to send their army after us."
Brom snapped his fingers. "Come, we must rest. We shall leave Furnost at daybreak.
Daybreak came quickly and the dragons soared into the morning sky. Below them, there were only plains and the occasional tree. Another hour past by before the walls of Melian were seen in the east... and the tops of the red tents of the Varden directly forward.
We are home, Saphira hummed.
Yes, Eragon agreed, the replacement for it, that is.
The dragons zoomed toward the tents at a dizzying speed, the ground a blur. Three streaks of white were seen below. Eragon assumed the streaks were Arya, Islanzadí, and Vanír. For some reason, Eragon hoped to see Arya again. For some reason, Eragon missed her.
Saphira and Thorn gave a triumphant roar, ejecting a stream of blue and red fire. Eragon heard the return of the Varden with their battle cries.
The dragons landed in the heart of the Varden camp, followed by the three elves. The Riders and the elves dismounted, yet all the attention was centered on Brom. When Nasuada came out of her tent, she froze as her eyes laid on Brom. It was pure silence for a while.
Nasuada then stammered, "Brom...? Is it really you...?"
Brom knelt, saying yes. "Where is Ajihad?" Eragon bit his lip.
Nasuada's face fell. A tear rolled down her cheek as she admitted, "He was killed during the Battle of Farthen Dûr."
"What..." Brom trailed off. "How..."
Jormündur stood forward. "Three days," he began, "after the Eragon slayed Durza, a company of Urgals ambushed Ajihad, Murtagh, the Twins, and twelve soldiers, from behind. The Urgals overwhelmed him, yet Ajihad brought down five of the monsters before his unfortunate death."
Brom sighed. "At least the proud fool died in honor. "Brom glanced at the Urgal Nighthawks and Garzhvog. "Judging by having Urgals here, I guess you accepted some peace treaty with them."
Eragon heard Garzhvog growl. Nasuada shrugged. "It was either fight or flight."
Brom answered with a nod. "Speaking of which, how goes my Varden?"
Nasuada appeared shocked. "Your... Varden?"
"He had started the Varden, you know," Islanzadí said, adding a bit of human language so Nasuada would understand, "We had not revealed such information until now."
"Ah, yes. I believe so."
"Now that's settled," Eragon said, "we need to wait for Orrin."
"Don't bother," a gruff voice said from behind them. "He's already here." Everyone whirled around to face the Surdan king, a bandage wrapped on his right hand.
"What happened to you?" Arya asked, raising an eyebrow.
Orrin sighed. "Well, I kind of stuck a scalpel into one of the chemicals that appeared to be corrosive. Then I slipped and cut my self, or had the acid eat me. At least I got it cleaned before the cut got too deep into the muscle."
Brom snapped his fingers. "Okay, everyone is present. Nasuada, if you please, allow us into your tent."
The leaders huddled around the table which lay a three dimensional map of Alagäesia, constructed of wood and clay. Brom pointed at the structure which marked Helgrind. "This is where they are. They are gathering forces from six cities; apparently Daret, Dras-Leona, Eastcroft, Furnost, and Narda. One tactic we can make is to center our attack on Helgrind and Dras-Leona. The elves can attack from the North, the Varden from the South, and the Varden from the East." The map showed an example of the scene, conjured by magic. Eragon resolved that it was made by the Du Vrangr Gata.
"But," Nasuada objected, "couldn't reserve forces attack us from behind?" Brom raised an eyebrow as soldiers started cutting down the attackers.
"We shall send our best warriors to fight, provoke the enemy to stage the ambush, and then overwhelm them with sheer number," Orrin said.
"Then again," Murtagh said, "those numbers would thin out faster than the first wave."
Eragon banged a fist on the table, the projections disappearing. "We can only know so much! How can we predict their motives?"
"Ah," Brom said, lifting a finger, "you forget that we would outmaneuver them with two Dragon Riders?"
Saphira blinked an eye. And I hoped you didn't forget that. Did you happen to forget skulblaka svènn?
Eragon face-palmed as he replied, Damn! I could have used it so many times!
We all make mistakes. Remember what you did with Aren?
No one said anything for a while, until Arya spoke, "What about we send in the Urgals from the North and the Varden from the South? That would cause their forces to think it were two coincidental simultaneous raiding parties.
"When their army turns up to fend off the supposed raiding parties, the remaining Varden, Elven and Urgal forces to ambush the ambushers." The figures appeared again. The first wave of soldiers entered the city, overwhelming the guards. The defenders appeared behind them and began to attack the perpetrators. Then, the main army came, regrouped with the raiding party, destroying Dras-Leona. Eragon watched the clay towers of Helgrind sink into the ground.
"I should have come up with that tactic..." muttered Brom.
"So," Orrin said, "are we to leave now?"
"In a few hours," Nasuada replied. "Gather your forces and we shall march onto Dras-Leona and Helgrind."
Islanzadí talked with Vanír; who nodded and left the tent, and Orrin strode out, assessing to his soldiers. Islanzadí turned to Brom, saying, "You have much explaining to do, Vinr Alfäkyn."
"Of course, my queen," Brom said, promptly bowing and calling Murtagh to follow before following the queen out the tent.
"You may be dismissed too, Eragon and Arya," Nasuada said to the two remaining people in the tent. Eragon thanked Nasuada before exiting, followed by Arya. The two walked toward Eragon's tent in silence, but when they arrived at the tent, Arya said, "We have not spoken in a friendly manner for some time."
Eragon fumbled with a knot and said, "We have not. Not since a week ago or so. Is something on your mind?" Eragon finished untying the last knot, and the two disappeared inside. Eragon then tied one of the knots to keep the flap closed, and turned around to be embraced by Arya.
"I missed you."
I have too," Eragon replied. "It feels good to be around you again." Eragon the wrapped his arms around her. "Is something wrong?"
Arya smiled and said, "No. I'm fine."
"Do you love me?"
Arya seemed shocked by the question, but regained her posture as she said, "With all my heart."
"And trust?"
"With my life. Why should I not? You saved my life during Gil'ead, even though you could have just left me. Even now, Saphira trusts me enough to allow me to ride her during even minor battles when you are not around." Eragon smiled as they tilted their heads and pressed their lips together. A sudden surge of euphoria coursed through Eragon as their friendship was reconciled. It made him feel good, since he had rejected Arya a few days before.
They were lost in their own world until a horn sounded, followed by a man's crying voice. Eragon separated himself and said, "Soldiers?"
"I believe so," Arya replied. "I knew this couldn't last long." Eragon started to draw his sword, but Arya placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't die. It saddens my heart to see you charge into battle, much more if you were to perish by steel."
"I wish not to leave you either. But this fight must end if we are to spend our lives in harmony." Arya nodded, then untied the strings with magic. Flashes of steel winked in the air as they were brought down, to meet a sword beneath.
In the beginning, Eragon cleaved a man's hand with a two-handed blow. Arya parried a sword thrust and smote the attacker with a bolt of green magic. Once, Eragon spotted a soldier attack Arya from her blind spot, which he quickly disposed of the attacker with a sword thrust.
Before long, the battle was over, the northern entrance riddled with bodies. Eragon walked up to Islanzadí, where she was cleaning her blade with the tunic of a fallen soldier. "How many were there?"
"Twenty-five of them," the elven queen answered. "But the Varden has not suffered any numbers. Two fled, and in all, twenty-three to burn."
"When shall we leave for Dras-Leona?" Eragon asked.
The elven queen stared into the horizon. "Until the elven forces arrive. Probably in a half hour."
The army was divided into four parts: a Varden raiding party, a Urgal raiding party, and two main armies, consisting of elves, Varden members, and Urgals. Eragon was commanding the northern main army, Arya the southern, and each raiding party by their own commanders. Islanzadí was returning to Ellésmera with Vanír, as they couldn't participate in the upcoming battle. It annoyed Vanír so much that he had to be tranquilized with a spell.
It was two days until they arrived at the designated places. Eragon waited by the forest edge, a league away from Dras-Leona. "Go," he said to the supposed raiding party. "Be quick, and give us a yell when the main force has ambushed." The commander nodded, leading the men forward.
"Now, we wait," Eragon told the main army. "Anyone with ears sharp enough, tell the rest of the men. This is one battle we ave all been waiting for."
The men fidgeted as the seconds turned to minutes. One of the men looked up, fifteen minutes later, and said, "Is that it?"
Eragon turned to the city, hearing a "raah!" in the horizon. "I do not know anyone who can shout that loud," he declared, "CHARGE!"
The army burst into action, following the battle cry as they ran toward Dras-Leona. Soon, another cry came into unison, and the city was under attack. Siege engines overturned false trees, launching rocks dipped in burning oil, following a volley of flaming arrows. The city was under siege. Dras-Leona and Helgrind was doomed by the forces of the Alliance.
Sorry. I meant for this to be on the weekend, but I typed this as fast as possible, being three or so days early. So enjoy. R&R!
