Of Dragons and Elves
Fandom: Inheritance Cycle
Author: CatandKaraForever
Rating: T
Arya! Stay away from here, turn back, go to Carvahall and muster reinforcements, Eragon telepathically sent to her elven lover, Uru'baen is under siege. I'm going to try to soften up the war-camp, but I don't want you here if it gets too risky.
After the defeat of Galbatorix and the rebuilding of the Riders, Carvahall had become a booming city and military outpost for the New Order of Alagaesia, the political structure that had replaced Galbatorix's Empire.
Eragon, don't do this. You don't have to prove anything. You don't need to sacrifice yourself just to distract an army, Arya responded.
I'll be fine. Don't worry. I love you.
I love you too, but this seems like a bad idea.
Eragon shut Arya out, sliding her bow free of her shoulder and setting a single shaft to her string. She slid down a hill to find a better shooting angle. She fired, and one of the mercenary guards went down, her shaft buried in his back. Eragon instinctively reached for the reassuring presence of Saphira, but did not find it. Eragon reloaded, firing another shaft. A second guard went down. She set another arrow to her string and fired, but this time adding a spell to the shaft.
"Brisingr," she whispered.
Her arrow streaked forward to one of the tents, a ball of blue flame erupting from the tip. It struck a tent, and the tent alit.
"Fire," one of the guards shouted, "there's a fire. One of the tents is on fire!"
Eragon felt Arya probing at her mind and opened as the attack alarm went up.
Why did you shut me out, Eragon?
I didn't want you trying to convince me NOT to do this.
I won't. You don't NEED to do it, but if you want I certainly won't stop you.
A guard spotted her and shouted.
"Hey! Intruder!"
She quickly fired an arrow through the guard's chest, and the man fell backwards, clutching at the shaft.
Arya, how are you coming with those reinforcements from Carvahall?
I've gotten to Carvahall and the army is headed your way, I'm going to call Firnen and meet up with you, Arya said, Where are you?
I'm on the outside perimeter of the war-camp around Uru'baen. The alarm has gone up, so just head to the sounds of battle. I'll be there.
Eragon whipped Brisingr free as another guard closed with her. The guard had a sword and shield, and Eragon knew he was a threat. The guard swung his sword at her, and she parried. She brought her blade down, and he caught the blow on his shield. Brisingr split the hard steel of the shield and Eragon followed up with an overhand chop that slashed through the man's chest.
"Brisingr!"
Her sword lit up in blue flames which brightened the camp. Several guards rushed her, and she caught one by the wrist, trapping him and ramming her flaming sword through his chest. She ripped it free, and turned, slashing one's head off. The third and final of the guards that had rushed her went down, an elven arrow buried in his chest. Eragon heard a dragon roar, and looked up to see Arya sitting on Firnen's back, her bow drawn. Arya's bow sang and several guards went down. A single armored warrior appeared next to Eragon, slashing at her neck with a long black blade. She ducked, slashing open the man's stomach. Brisingr tore open his stomach, but he didn't react.
"It's a Shade," Eragon shouted.
Arya's arrows pelted the armored Shade, and one was lucky enough to bury itself in the Shade's heart. The Shade went down, and Arya grinned. Her smile was ended, however, when a large blue form crashed into Firnen's side, knocking her off. She landed gracefully on the ground, rolling to her feet with her sword drawn.
"Saphira? That's Saphira attacking Firnen!"
"Are you sure, Eragon?"
"Yes. Completely. But she should still be restrained," Eragon said, Thranlu? Is Saphira still restrained?
No, the elf said, she took off while your thoughts were closed off, and I couldn't get through to you after that. Why?
She's attacking Firnen at Uru'baen, which is under siege by Zem's forces.
Saphira snapped at Firnen's neck, and the green kicked her off. Saphira breathed a jet of flame at Firnen, and the green barely evaded it.
Eragon! Control her! Do whatever you do to calm her, Firnen shouted in Eragon's head.
Eragon sheathed Brisingr, calling to Saphira.
"Saphira! Don't do this. What are you doing? It's Firnen your attacking," she said.
Saphira breathed a jet of flame at them, and Arya shouted a phrase of magic.
"Skolir nosu fra brisingr," she called.
Saphira's fire bubbled around them and Eragon responded with a mild spell.
"Letta!"
Saphira froze in place, blinking her massive eyes.
"Malthinae," Arya shouted, binding the blue-scaled dragon.
"Gath un reisa du rakr," Eragon cast, a mist enveloping Saphira.
"Thaefathan," Arya added, and the mist thickened around Saphira's legs.
Are you unhurt, Firnen? We took her out as fast as we could, Arya asked.
Firnen nodded, confirming his well-being. The troops from Carvahall arrived through a portal, and they took up positions at Eragon's orders. Eragon slid an arrow from her quiver and put it on her string. She fired an arrow through a guard's chest. Saphira snapped at the fog and took off, vanishing.
"You have got to be kidding me," Eragon said, clutching Brisingr, "what's wrong with her?"
"I guess somehow Zem corrupted her. But I don't know how. He'll pay for this," Arya said.
"All forces charge," Eragon said as she pointed down towards the mercenary army attacking the city.
The armies met with a loud clash, and a New Order spearman went down, a sword buried in his chest. The spearman next to him struck down the swordsman with a quick thrust from his spear.
"Cousin," a voice called, and Eragon looked over to see Roran standing tall in the ranks of New Order troops.
Roran was wearing a suit of glittering steel armor with his signature hammer in one hand and a large iron shield in the other. He had no helm, and his blond hair was visible.
"It is a good day to meet again, is it not?"
Eragon was good to see her cousin, who she'd had an almost sibling-like relationship with, leading the charge.
"No time to chat," Eragon said, "we have to break this siege. We can catch up later."
Roran nodded, leaping into the fray. His hammer smashed one mercenary's legs, and he followed up by smashing the man's skull with his shield. Eragon always forgot how good a warrior Roran was. Firnen descended onto the battlefield, sweeping a jet of fire across the mercenary ranks. Arya fired an arrow, dropping a mercenary. Roran brought his shield up to deflect an axe, and then smashed the axeman's skull with his warhammer. An arrow struck Roran's chestplate, and he turned to face the archer, extending his shield. He rushed the archer, swinging his hammer upwards and crunching his jaw. Firnen snapped up an enemy spearman, and several more spears clanged off his green scales. Eragon brought Brisingr up, deflecting a greatsword. She brought her sword down to slice open the warrior's leg. She finished the man with a quick stab to the throat.
"Deyja," Eragon shouted, and one of the mercenary swordsmen fell dead.
Arya's bow sang as she pumped out arrow after arrow into the mercenary ranks. Roran smashed a swordsman's chestplate and caved in his chest with a quick blow from his hammer. He finished the man with a quick blow to the face. Blood splattered from the hole Roran had caved in the soldier's face.
"Brisingr," Eragon shouted, and her blade burst into flames.
She strode calmly towards the apparent leader, calmly slicing through the troops that got in her way.
"Cousin! You should have help," Roran said as he fought his way to Eragon's side, "if you're going after the enemy leaders, you'll need my help."
An arrow slammed into Roran's shield as he interposed himself between his cousin and himself. He hurled his warhammer, caving in the archer woman's skull. Roran retrieved his hammer, smashing another soldier's jaw.
"Retreat," the enemy leader shouted, "we're outclassed here."
Arya fired an arrow that penetrated the leader's throat and he fell to the ground. The army surged into action, but they were less organized than before, and were easily slaughtered by the New Order troops.
"That army was easier to best than I expected," Arya commented.
"Yeah, almost TOO easy," Eragon responded.
"My plan is going exactly as I expected," Zem said, "Good."