Shruikan, you okay?
Harry watched as his partner came in for a landing, followed by Glaedr and Saphira. He could feel nervousness coming from Shruikan, as well as exasperation.
I am okay. This young one here will not let me any closer to Glaedr however. I grow tired of her even an hour after we met.
Harry snorted then turned to watch as the princess of the elves conversed with Oromis and Eragon. Murtagh kind of looked like he was out of his depth, watching the elves talk in the ancient language. Shruikan landed first, trotting over to him and Harry patted his neck.
Did you guys go hunt too or are you hungry?
We hunted. Glaedr and Saphira showed me where. I also remember where to hunt from when we were here a hundreds of years ago.
"We must introduce you two to the Queen," Arya commented, turning to look at Harry and Murtagh. "She'll want to know that there are two new Riders. However, I need your word that you aren't here to spy on us."
Harry blinked as Arya walked up to him, glancing at Shruikan first, before staring at him.
"I think if I was here to spy on you guys for the king," Harry started, hearing Shruikan growl low in his throat. "Glaedr and Saphira would have torn us to bits as well as the guardian of the forest. I am not here to spy on you elves. Vel eïnradhin iet ai Shur'tugal." [Upon my word as a Rider]
Did you say something to upset the older elf? Glaedr is looking at us like he wants to roar at us.
Harry heard the steely undertone in Shruikan's voice and knew that if whatever happened in the future, Shruikan would fight to the death to keep Harry alive. Even if Shruikan had to fight Saphira and Glaedr.
Shruikan, you will never loose me, blackbird. I promise.
Shruikan growled louder and reached out a limb to curl around him. I already lost you the first time. I am not loosing you again.
Harry turned only to look into Shruikan's eyes. The black dragon had lowered himself to be at Harry's eye level so Harry wrapped his arms around what he could reach and planted a kiss on Shruikan's head.
I love you, my dragon, my partner.
Arya studied him and raised an eyebrow but eventually nodded. "Come you two. I shall introduce you to my mother."
Harry turned to look at Oromis, who was quietly talking with Eragon. He caught the eye of the elder Rider and Oromis nodded, gesturing for him to follow Arya.
"If you both are to fight alongside the elves in the coming war," Oromis said, putting offense on the word 'coming'. "You will need to gain the trust of the elves."
Murtagh got up, scooped up Thorn and put him on his shoulder then walked over to Harry. "Arya's a princess?"
"Yeah," Harry muttered. "Drottingu means princess in the ancient language. That's why the Varden didn't have an elves fighting in the battle of Farthen Dur when you two were there. The Queen thought her daughter dead."
"Hmm," Murtagh said. "Should I be nervous? The Varden didn't trust me at first either."
Harry clapped an arm around Murtagh's shoulder. "You're a Rider now. They're more likely to distrust me and the big black lizard over there."
I heard that.
Harry chuckled quietly and began to follow Arya as she began the descent down to the elven city. Oromis, Eragon, Saphira and Orik stayed at the top. Shruikan followed behind them, swatting Harry in the head with a wing. Harry snorted, turned around and glared at Shruikan, who did the dragon equivalent of laughter before stretching his neck out to look out over the trail.
"Arya?" Harry said, as they ventured forth. The sun was gleaming up above them and as they walked, elves came out of their homes to stare at them. Some even held swords in their hands, almost like they would attack at the slightest assault.
"Yes, Harry?" Arya questioned, stopping at Harry's word. Murtagh looked at him too, raising an eyebrow. Shruikan stopped behind them and lowered his head down to sniff at an elven child who had come running up to him. Every elf around them held their breath, while a few took a step forward. Harry watched the interaction out of the corner of his eye before continuing his talk with Arya.
"I have… My trunk up on Shruikan's saddle," Harry started, taking a step to stand in front of Arya to catch her eyes. She stared at him and narrowed her eyes.
"When I went to go rescue Murtagh from the king," Harry said, lowering his voice. The little girl who had run up to Shruikan giggled as the big black dragon nudged her playfully with his head and laid a dragon blessing on the girl by breathing on her. When Shruikan lifted his head away, there was a glowing silver spiral on her forehead. "I rescued the last egg as well."
Arya's eyes widened and she looked up at Shruikan's back, to the saddlebag. "The last egg? You… rescued it?"
"Yeah," Harry remarked, walking over to Shruikan's side, stroked the scales on his side then scrambled up onto Shruikan's back. The elves around them seemed to have relaxed a little bit now that Shruikan was not seen as a threat. Some of them even cheered, obviously having put the pieces together. They cheered a lot more when everyone realized that there was a dragon curled around Murtagh.
That was well done.
Happiness emanated from Shruikan's mind as the dragon fully seemed to take his place amongst the Riders and elves again. You gave me a second chance, my Rider. I will always love you for that.
Well, we are halves of each others' soul.
Harry sighed in contentment then opened his trunk. It was still on Shruikan's back, tied down to the saddle so that no one except him or Murtagh could access it. Harry spoke the word to open the trunk then reached in and gathered the pine green egg. He lifted it out gently, closed his trunk then hopped down back onto the ground.
Arya's eyes lit upon the green egg and she stared at it, mesmerized. All of the elves around them quieted down when they saw the egg then someone amongst them gave a loud cheer. "May I..."
Harry grinned and handed it over to Arya, who took it with gentle arms.
Arya stared at it with amazement then peered at him with wide eyes. "You… This will mean a lot to the Queen. You rescued the last egg…"
"That I did," Harry muttered, exchanging glances with Murtagh. "Along with some other Rider artifacts."
"I must introduce you two to my mother. Come."
When they arrived at the Queen's court, it felt like every elf in the city was already there. All of them were looking with awe at Shruikan, Thorn, Murtagh and Harry.
"Why do I feel like I'll probably get hero-worshipped again here?" Harry muttered as they walked into the throne room. There was enough space for Shruikan to fit in the building but only just. Shruikan was growing at a quicker rate than most dragons did, which Harry had attributed to the fact that Shruikan's mind was much actually a hundred years old.
Murtagh snorted. "You were worshipped in… England?"
"Oh, you don't know the half of it," Harry retorted then grinned. "Well, we're Dragon Riders now. The both of us. You can share in my despair."
Murtagh's lips twitched up into a small smile. "I saw some of this back in Farthen Dur. Though I was in a cell for most of that time. A lot of the soldiers were watching Eragon's every move."
They watched as Arya walked over to the Queen, having given back the green egg to Harry to hold onto. She bowed before the throne, which the Queen was sitting in. Queen Islanzadi had long, black hair that was roughly the same shade as his own but hers was smooth and silky looking. She listened to her daughter, with the members of her council sitting around her, then turned to look at the two of them. Shruikan was right behind Harry, with his head lowered to hover between them.
"Mother, may I present Murtagh Morzansson and Harry Jamesson Murtagh is now Rider of the red dragon and Harry Jamesson is Shruikan's Rider."
Harry wrinkled his nose at being called Jamesson but he figured it was too late to complain now.
Arya stared at the two of them then looked back at her mother. "There are now two more Riders who will fight alongside us when the time comes."
The elves outside cheered, able to hear them as there were no walls between them.
The Queen studied both Murtagh and Harry for several minutes before standing up. "This is wonderful news! What of Shruikan? Is he not the king's dragon?"
"That is a little complicated, Your Majesty," Harry offered. "Suffice it to say, I was Shruikan's original Rider."
Islanzadi narrowed her eyes and gasps were heard throughout the room. "Whatever do you mean by that? Our information suggests that his original Rider was killed."
"I was," Harry remarked.
Arya and Islanzadi stared at him while Murtagh coughed to cover up laughter.
"You came back though," Islanzadi said.
"Obviously."
Smooth, Harry.
Shut it you.
"And what of you, Murtagh, son of Morzan?" Islanzadi asked, after Harry didn't speak for a minute or two. "Have you come to aid us? Or destroy us?"
Thorn growled, letting loose a puff of smoke.
"I have come to learn the ancient arts of the Riders," Murtagh replied steadily. "I am not my father."
"Eragon and Saphira vouch for him," Harry remarked. "If that helps."
"I vouch for him too, Mother," Arya added.
Murtagh looked up at Arya with wide eyes. Arya nodded to him.
"He fought well in the battle at Farthen Dur," Arya explained when Islanzadi looked at her daughter with a questioning eye.
Islanzadi was about to say something else when they heard a cracking noise. A whining trill sounded in the air and Harry peered down at the egg in his hands.
Shruikan?
Shruikan lowered his head to sniff the hatchling in the egg as it began to crawl its way out. This little one wants the elf princess, I think. No one else has touched it since we got here other than her.
Harry nodded and looked up at Arya, whose eyes widened at his look. "Arya, you have someone who wants to see you."
Arya gasped and raced down the dais to reach them and held out her arms hesitantly. Harry handed the egg with the green dragon halfway out of it and watched as the dragon finished crawling out. He could see the Queen staring at them with intent, if excited eyes.
Murtagh grinned, exchanging a glance with Harry. "Is it always that special when a dragon hatches?"
It is.
Murtagh looked down at where Thorn had jumped down onto the ground. The week and a half year old dragon was peering up at him, his red eyes content.
More so now as we are the last dragons in Alagaesia.
AN: I have created a facebook page for readers of my stories to ask questions, leave comments, anything like that. I will also be putting polls for pairings eventually on there too so feel free to like the page. And I will try my best to post updates on stories too.
Just search for 'molmcmahon' on facebook if you're interested.