Hello again, hiatus is over. Time to continue with my re-imagined version of this story.
Recap: you'll have to read the fic...sorry. too many names to remember now and the plot is completely different.
Enjoy!
Dwervevindr watched his Rider, waiting for her to rise. She didn't. The only thing that kept him somewhat calm was knowing that she was still alive. He could see her chest rising and falling as she breathed. He knew that she had just used magic, but wasn't sure how. Instinct told him that she shouldn't have had the ability yet, not until she was much older. The aqua and black dragon looked toward the alley where dragoness-Saphira's-Rider-Eragon had disappeared into. Dwervevindr knew what the creatures were, Urgals. His partner-of-heart-and-mind-Briar had told him of them. He looked at her again. She was still breathing. He walked over to old-Rider-Father-Brom to check on him. The four-leg-short-beast shied away from him, but the dragon could see that the old man was losing a lot of blood. Dwervevindr looked at the alley again and saw dragoness-Saphia's-Rider-Eragon walking towards them. Dwervindr retreated back to his Rider and let the boy take care of Brom. Dragoness-Saphira arrived as the boy was taking the old man from the white beast. Dwervevindr ignored them and picked up his partner-of-heart-and-mind-Briar and deposited her into his saddle. He looked at the sword on the ground before extending his thoughts to dragoness-Saphira.
I need Eragon's help. Have him secure Briar in the saddle and then place her sword among my saddle bags. He said to her and waited as she relayed the message. Once Eragon had tied the wound on the old man's arm, he did as Dwervevindr asked. Once Briar and her sword were secure, the dragon took flight. I will look for a safe place. Follow behind with them and I will tell you were we land.
Very well. Fly safe. Saphira responded. Dwervevindr nodded and flew east again.
Eragon tightened the saddle straps on Brom's legs when the old man regained consciousness. Brom looked at Eragon and then around, his eyes falling on the area where he had last seen his daughter. He looked back at Eragon as he put a hand to his head.
"Did Saphira get here in time?"
"I'll explain later." Eragon answered. "Your arm is injured. I bandaged it as best as I could, but you need a safe place to rest." Brom touched his arm and took stock of his supplies, seeing his sword on his hip. "Saphira's going to take you and follow me by air.
"Are you sure?" Brom asked. Eragon stared at him the way Garrow had stared at him and Roran many times during their childhoods. Brom nodded. "I am honored. Where are Briar and Dwervevindr?"
"Briar was unconscious. Dwervevindr took her and is looking for a place for us to rest. If she hadn't shown up when she did, you would have been killed by that Urgal." Brom nodded grimly before nodding his readiness.
Briar blinked her eyes to clear them as the thud of a dragon landing woke her. She felt weak and she didn't like it. She looked around for the dragon, fearing a Forsworn had found her and Dwervevindr. She relaxed a little when she noticed it was Dwervevindr landing in a secluded clearing and she was in the saddle.
Dwervevindr, what's going on?
Little Fox, you're okay? You're not hurt? She could hear the worry in his voice and guilt stabbed at her.
Not physically. She answered. But you didn't answer me.
You used magic, Little Fox. And that bit of magic almost made me lose you.
I'm sorry. Dad, he was injured.
Eragon is with him. Saphira is bringing them to us. At that same moment, Saphira roared her arrival and Dwervevindr made room for her to land. Brom looked at her as he undid the saddle straps and slid from Saphira's back. Briar silently released her legs and made to climb down, but Dwervevindr picked her up and settled her against his leg after her got into a comfortable position. Brom laughed at the look of irritation that crossed his daughter's face before starting a fire. It wasn't long before Eragon joined them, Cadoc and Briar's mare in tow. Before Eragon could say anything, Brom spoke.
"I'm fine. It's just a scratch and should heal fairly quickly." Briar raised an eyebrow which Brom ignored. "However, I do need a fresh bandage." Once Brom had been seen to, Briar stood and walked over to the fire, much to Dwervevindr's chagrin, and helped prepare dinner. She was starving and she could see that Eragon was as well. Brom said nothing of seeing Briar use magic to kill the Urgals and he had a feeling Eragon had used it as well by how the boy was eating his food, almost as if he hadn't eaten in days.
"What happened today, Dad?" Briar said after she had finished.
"The Urgal kicked-"
"Not with the Urgal." Briar interrupted her father and looked at him. "It's obvious that the Urgals were either deserters or a rear guard. I know that he kicked Snowfire and you got wounded. I saw that much. I meant after I drew the Urgals away from you. I know you saw." She whispered the last part. Eragon looked at her in shock while the dragons watched both of their Riders with interest. Brom sighed in defeat when he saw the same question in Eragon's eyes and guessed the boy had come to the same conclusion Briar had.
"Neither one of you had any idea what you were doing." Brom said and looked at both of them. "Neither of you have ever used this power before. This magic, for that is what it is, is dangerous. The two of you could have been killed."
"Then teach us." Briar challenged her father. "We are Riders. You taught me that everyone has a set of rules to live by, including the Riders. We have new rules to live by. So teach us the rules of magic." Brom glared at his daughter. Briar didn't back down from his burning gaze. Eragon watched the two of them in awe. He had never seen children act like this towards their parents and it was painfully obvious that Briar had some sort of connection with her father that he would never have with his, if he ever met the man.
"This is not something you should be taught!" Brom roared. "You demand knowledge with insolence, Girl!" Briar jumped to her feet.
"I only hope to survive!" She yelled back. "That's what you've always wanted for me isn't it? You've wanted me to survive. If this magic is so dangerous to use, then we will die when we cannot control it like what happened today. I fainted from the use of magic. I broke two Urgal necks, something that may have killed me if I used my bare hands." Brom didn't answer nor did he take his eyes from his daughter. "Fine, if you won't teach me, I'll find someone who will." She stalked over to Dwervevindr, planning on sleeping. I'll free Arya and get her to teach me. She's been willing to teach me everything else.
Are you sure it was wise to make such a declaration, Little Fox?
"Briar," Brom's voice kept her from sitting on the ground. She stayed standing, but did not face him, waiting for him to speak. "Come back to the fire." She could hear the defeat in his voice and guessed he had come to some conclusion that she could only guess at.
See what he has to say. Dwervevindr counseled. But keep the secret of Arya. You can use this magic to keep an eye on her.
My father does not impart knowledge freely. I will have to ask him for the word and then he'll ask why I need it. Though I can always tell him that I want to check on things. That might placate him long enough for me to free Arya.
Be careful with your lies, Little Fox. They can come back around and hurt you instead.
I know.
Briar turned around and walked back to the fire and sat next to Eragon. Brom looked at them both before sighing.
"Briar is right. Magic has rules. If you break a rule, the penalty is death. No judge. No fighting it. Magic is limited by your strength, the words you know, and your imagination."
"Words?" Eragon said, confusion plain on his face. Brom seemed like he was about to explode again.
"What did the two of you say when you fought the Urgals?"
"Brisingr," Eragon said and the fire flickered.
"Jierda," Briar whispered, feeling a shiver run through her.
"Yes, those two words are from the ancient language. All living things used to speak it. It was lost in Alagaësia until the elves brought it back from over the sea." Briar placed a firm hand on Eragon's shoulder to keep him from asking his question which she guessed was about the elves. "In this language, everything has a name. Even we have names in the ancient language. These are true names and each and every creature and thing has one. You just have to find it." Brom said more and Briar barely listened. The fact about her true name worried her. She had hear her father speak of it before, but had never really paid any heed to it. Now, she wondered what her name was and what it said about her. "Remember," Brom finished, "magic takes just as much energy as if you used your arms and back. That is why the two of you felt tired after killing the Urgals and why I was angry. It was a dreadful risk on your part. Especially you, Briar. Breaking the necks of two full grown Urgals is dangerous and potentially deadly."
"But how do you know if spell will use all your energy?" Eragon asked.
"You don't." Brom answered. "That's why magicians have to know their limits and know them well. Once you commit to a task and release the magic, it is a do or die situation. And I mean this as a warning. Do not try anything until you have learned more." Briar stood to walk over to Dwervevindr.
"Briar," Eragon said, "how did you know your word?"
"I've been around magicians often enough to have picked up some words in the ancient language." She answered, not looking at Brom. She thought of Arya and the Twins and the dwarf magicians in Farthen Dûr. Not to mention in the places where she had spied that often held at least one magician. "Good night, Eragon."
a nice little filler to get us all back into the groove of the fic. thanks for reading and please review
