Hola!!!
I guess I'm just a sucker for a guilt trip or maybe I just love reading reviews but regardless of the reason I woke up this morning and saw how many reviews I had got for that one short crappy chapter and went into thinking-cap-author mode :D
10 for the smallest chapter ever!!!!
Saphira is italics
There is only one change in POV and that's a short one to Murtagh cause I feel sorry for him. The rest is Eragon. .Enjoy!!!!
Disclaimer: I own my lovely new dress but sadly not Eragon. CP still has the ownership of that!!!!
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Eragon
I stood opposite the motionless form of Arya in the darkened room that now served as my home. The elves had finally resigned themselves to the fact that I wasn't moving after Saphira threatened to incinerate them and since I had first rushed in they had left me alone. I watched exhausted as the large mirror shook, matching the rhythm of soldier's boots as they marched past the room. The Varden had become very defensive of Arya and had insisted that a guard be set up for her and despite my arguments Nasuada had allowed it, even after agreeing it was pointless. Who could get past a rider and his dragon as well as all the elves that wouldn't kill the soldiers in a heartbeat? Still it gave the Varden a sense of purpose and that was needed. I turned my attention back to the ornate mirror after a mental nudge from Saphira. Focusing my eyes onto the figure pacing in front of me I winced. She looked even more panicked than an hour ago. I had let her vent her anger, frustration and worry for over an hour hoping that it would help. I had even nodded and agreed to all her criticisms of all the methods I had already used to wake Arya in the vain attempt to cease her panic. So far it had only served to make things worse and while I was wasting time trying to placate her. I was wasting time I didn't have.
"I've tried everything already!!" My voice was loud and I saw her pacing stop sharply.
Quiet. A moment ago I would have given anything for it. Now I wished she would go back to her relentless worrying. Her face was impassive and her eyes had turned to coal. Obviously shouting at the elven queen was not the most diplomatic thing to do. Saphira chuckled quietly from outside as she took in my expression and compared them to my emotions. This wasn't going to end well for me but right now I didn't care. Arya had been stuck in her coma for a while and was showing no signs of waking up save for her sporadic thrashing and screaming. Everything me and the elves had done to wake her up had failed and when we tried to enter her mind we only got a brief glimpse of a cell before everything went black. Right now all I wanted was for Arya to get better but that was impossible with her mother insisting on a status report frequently and her long complaints when nothing worked. I knew she was upset and frustrated but we all were and she really wasn't helping.
"My queen I'm sorry if I seem rude but I most go. Saphira has devised a new plan which I have high hopes for. I will give you a report after to tell you the outcome."
I twisted my arm respectfully and quickly ended the spell that controlled my image. I could feel Saphira's disapproval at my lie but also her amusement at the abrupt ending of our conversation. I ignored her and walked over to Arya's bed. Her form was straight and stiff. I cautiously bent over and pressed my hand gently to her forehead before drawing it back and fetching the cool cloth that was submerged in cold water in an earthen bowl. Wringing it out I gently wiped the sweat from her face before rinsing it and laying it on her forehead. It wasn't much but it's all I could think of doing. If I could lower her temperature a bit then it might help her. Saphira ignored my blatant lying and set out to distract me with plans of awakening.
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Murtagh
Since I had protected the elf Arya from the spell I had been punished beyond reckoning. I lay on a cold stone floor in an unresponsive coma, opening my mind to nobody apart from Thorn. Still I could not fight the memories than engulfed our consciousness. Memories of my father, mother, strangers that I didn't know I remembered, times that I was sure were fake. Yet everything felt real. There were times in the beginning where I thought I had gone insane but that was before I realized what was happening. Galbatorix had somehow managed to link me and Arya's minds so that we shared our memories as well as experiencing our own pains. Sometimes I would feel a familiar presence push against my mind but it disappeared before I could place it. The link was familiar and comforting. I guessed that it was aimed at Arya as it was so strong and sure when it approached her mind but floundered when it hit mine. At least somebody was trying to help her. I knew I would not be allowed to die, Galbatorix had already told me what my purpose was in the upcoming battles and I had already sworn the oath so I could not resist. I tried though; this rebelling was proof of that. Even if I did die, I had tried. I felt disgust and anger as I witnessed Arya's torture at the hand of the shade before it faded away into a memory of my childhood. I watched in hatred as my father through his sword at my back and all my old fear returned to me. I wouldn't last much longer.
………………………..
Eragon
I rested my head against Saphira's broad side while she enveloped me in her wings. From her position she could see into Arya's room and thus tell me if anything happened to her. I hated to leave her but I needed sleep in order to be useful so I had left Arya with Blodhgarm and retreated to Saphira's side. Moving restlessly I scrunched my eyes together in an effort to block out my thoughts.
"Little one, you will not sleep like that."
I grumbled an incoherent reply before fidgeting again and making a conscious effort to relax my eyes. After a couple of minutes of constant moving I gave up on sleep and instead contented myself with the peaceful presence of Saphira. She didn't say anything, giving me time to organize my thoughts. It was a while before the silence was broken.
"Have you had any luck with the egg?"
I felt Saphira sigh, I already knew the answer but it was a conversation I needed to have. Not just for Arya but for Saphira too.
"No. Nasuada is insisting on keeping the egg a secret and only presenting it to people that are high up in the Varden politics. The elves of course were first and as soon as they were ruled out she brought in different humans one by one, made them swear an oath and presented them with the egg. Needless to say none of them were worthy."
I nodded my head slowly. "The elves were probably worthy."
She snorted. "Yes but it is not for Nasuada to decide who is worthy or not based on their status. I had been carried and held by every member of the Varden and elves and none of them were worthy. You were the right person and you were only a farm boy!"
My cheeks coloured and I felt shame creep in. I had been reminded enough that my status before Saphira was not high at all.
"Oh Eragon I didn't mean it like that. All I meant was that Nasuada would have overlooked you if she had used this same process with me and I would never have hatched and the Varden would be destroyed by now. You are more than worthy Eragon and I can't imagine sharing this bond with anyone but you."
"I know Saphira."
I had known that she hadn't meant what she had said but the words reminded me of other times with Arya and I often wondered if things would be different between us if I had been the son of somebody important. Somebody worthy.
I felt Saphira chuckle against me. "You are worthy, Eragon. Arya will realize it soon enough."
With her words reverberating in my mind, filling me with hope and her calming emotions overwhelming me I slipped into a peaceful slumber for the first time in what felt like an age.
………………..
Something powerful was stirring. I could feel it in my dream as I struggled to wake up. Something powerful and old was awakening and it felt familiar but I did not know if it was for good or bad. Fighting off the blurred images of my dreams I returned to the world and shot up from Saphira's side. I pushed myself out from under her wing and looked around carefully.
"Can you feel that Saphira?"
Saphira just stared at me confused before snorting and chuckling lightly. I jumped up and down, forgetting about magic in my haste to put out the flames that had appeared on the grass beside my right foot. Saphira ignored my panicked dance and continued to laugh.
"Of course I can little one."
She broke into more snorts of laughter making it necessary for me to make the surrounding areas impervious to flames. My stamping stopped and I stared at Saphira wondering what could be so funny. I waited patiently as her laughter slowly faded away before a series glint appeared in her eye.
"Glaedr is awakening."
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Dun Dun Dun
Okay guys I've had over 2500 hits for this story and I only have 48 reviews.
After the boost in views for the last chapter I am tempted to play the 'play it mean keep them keen' game.
But I won't
Everyone had to wait ages for the last chapter and it wouldn't be fair or nice.
This one was up quick though.
I didn't read over this so sorry for any mistakes!
Sorry for the shortness of the chapter again. It just seemed like the right place to stop.
As always read, review inspire
Ciao x
