Sorry. There ya go. I know it has been forever, but I was, am, so busy with exams! I am keeping this short and sweet: I will write as much as I can, but the next few chapters are, in my opinion, a drag. I have already been working on writing some of the more interesting chapters later on, chaps 13ish and on, so be ready for the craziness. Let's go!
I stare at the plains as we ride in an awkward silence. Eragon gave up on trying to make conversation hours ago, when he realised neither Brom nor I were in the mood to speak. Saphira flew close to us, near the ground to avoid detection by any unnoticed passersby on the open plains of Palancar Valley. My eyes wondered bored over the blank expanses, covered in dead yellow grasses with the occasional patch of unmelted snow. In the far distance, the tips of mountains reached the base of the curved horizon.
We had only been at it for a day, but damn, I was sick of this.
Everything had been quiet once we left, and we had one major conversation to discuss where we were going before everyone but a certain blonde gave up on speaking. We had set up camp, following Brom's directions, as he had done this before.
The clearing we had set up camp in was small, but large enough for Saphira to land. It was bisected by a large creek, which was shallow enough to wade across. another small expanse of grass stretched on the other side. The clearing was surrounded by tall trees, unhindered in their growth by humans, or any other creatures. I could see the beginnings of a sunset over their monstrous peaks.
Once the site was set up, Brom turned and marched into the woods with a strong emotion on his face, which, when he came back, I found to be determination. Then I noticed his hands behind his back. He slowly brought them forward, and I blinked at what I saw there.
Sticks. Not just any sticks. Three long, heavy, beating sticks.
I flinch back, trying to avoid being noticed. Grow up. They won't hurt you. Steeling my resolve, I wait to see what he will do with them. He tosses one to Ery and one to me, then speaks.
"We are fighting against dangerous foes, it is important you know how to defend yourselves."
"But we already know how to fight!" Eragon sputters indignantly and I sigh, knowing he is far from the truth. The only experience we have is backyard stick fighting, and even that we haven't done for years. Brom seems to notice my hesitance, and nods slightly to me.
"She knows how to pick her fights already. I see, however, that you need to learn to do the same," Brom states, getting into a stance.
"Show me what you've got."
"Piece of cake."
They hefted the heavy sticks and circled each other. To Eragon's surprise, and I will admit, mine as well, Brom move swift and lithe on his feet, shifting across the leafy ground soundlessly. Eventually, they grew tired of this and Eragon lunged, swinging his stick wildly. The older man blocked it with ease, controlled power fending off the younger warrior's attacks.
After a particularly sloppy swing from Eragon, Brom sidesteps and smacks him to the ground with a harsh blow to the back.
"First rule of combat: Never underestimate your opponent." Ery rolled to his feet again and got into a steadier stance, a scowl on his face.
"Are you trying to kill me?!"
No, but your enemies will. Which is why you need to be used to this, and learn to defend yourself. Again!" Even if Eragon had the chance to respond before Brom swung again, He wouldn't have. Brom's logic was undeniable.
Brom slowed the exercise down and began teaching Eragon moves and patterns, constantly reminding him to move his feet. I sat down against Saphira's belly, dropping my staff, and we watched.
He isn't too bad at this.
Yes, but he is arrogant, and that will get him killed. We watch Brom thwack Eragon on his head before flicking his sword to hit his hip as well. Saphira growled in response, then spoke.
Neither of you will be hurt with me around.
I smiled. Eragon and his family had been the only ones to ever truly care for me until a few months ago, but now I had my sister back. I had Eragon and Saphira. I had Brom. Even though I left behind almost everything I had ever known, I didn't feel alone. I feel liberated.
Those words, I decided, would be what pushed me forward. She would protect us, so I must fight.
The boys continued for a while, before Brom called a stop to their match. Eragon was bruised, battered and exhausted. Brom however, looked happy and normal, if a little breathless. He turned to and motioned me over.
I splashed across the creek, staff back in hand, and stood before him in the chilly evening air. He lifted his sword and nodded. We began.
I quickly noticed how clumsy I was with the large stick for a sword. After Brom caught my side for the fourth time, he stopped and marched to the edge of the clearing again. From the thick of the woods he drew another stick smaller, about the length of my forearm. He tossed that to me. I had to drop the larger stick to catch it.
"Lets try this again. I have a feeling you'll be a lot better with something smaller." I suppose he is right, smaller person, smaller weapon right?
We began circling again, and I found it a lot easier to move with something I couldn't trip over. For a change, I made the first move and slashed across his chest. To my surprise, he had a tougher time blocking this. We had found my weapon style.
I attacked and he blocked, and we continued, back and forth. Ducking and slashing, fighting and dodging. He landed plenty of hits on me, but each time, I would tighten my guard. After a hard slash at my shoulder, he called it quits and we sat down to eat.
Our meal was a measly handful of berries from a shrub nearby and a few strips of dried meat. It was dampened by the fact that Eragon could not keep his damned mouth shut. He kept complaining of pains and aches.
I got fed up.
I grabbed his hand, and looked him in the eyes, smiling sweetly.
"Eragon?" he hummed.
"If you don't stop complaining and eat, I'm going to chop your hand off so you actually have something to complain about." Then I kissed his cheek and went back to eating, while Brom and Saphira chuckled in the background.
That certainly shut him up.
After we snuffed the flame out, we all settled down. Eragon moved my bedroll next to Saphira's belly and we lay next to each other, a foot between, holding hands. While we had nothing left, we were still bound by our honor to be responsible in our relations. Now was not the time to get tangled too deep in romance.
But, as we watched the last light fade away, I knew it was too late for us.
I wanted to end It here, but decided to continue because you were so patient. Love ya!
The next few days of travelling were dreary, and I was getting tired of riding horseback. I couldn't complain though. My mind traveled as we did, remembering far off memories, or imagining distant futures. Where were we going, and why? What would we accomplish, and what would we do after?
I couldn't answer any of these questions for myself, so I deigned to ask about it later.
Our path took us to the edges of the Spine, just inside the woods as Saphira glides overhead. Often the only sound was her wings, and the horses hooves. We avoided travelers a all costs, but if we couldn't, Saphira would soar into the clouds, nothing but a speck blending into the skies far above.
After we passed through Therinsford, buying Ery new gloves and some supplies. We also stopped by the local blacksmith and bought two swords.
Eragon got a hand and a half sword with a simple leather grip. It was long, but not long enough to drag when he walked with it at his hip. The cross guard was simple, and curved away from the wielder's hand, the pommel a simple cube. Mine was, of course, not a sword (I'm much too clumsy to wield one). It was a beautifully crafted dagger, about the length of my forearm. I believe Brom was only interested in the expensive thing because of the interesting carving on the blade. When I asked about it he said not to worry. The cross guard was a flat oval disc to protect my hand, and the pummel was a crafted metal, shaped like talons or claws, encased around a dark, dark purple swirled with a light lavender in the stone.
"Charoite," the smith said when I inquired about it. "It was ordered by a nobleman, but he died not long after the purchase. It somehow found its way back. The stone has special healing properties, as the old man over there seems to have picked up on. I can see why he'd want you to have it doll."
Other than that, it was uneventful, and we went under the guise of a father, son, and cousin travelling together. I snickered constantly because Eragon kept trying to hold my hand, but couldn't if he wanted to keep the story up.
"We have to come up with a different lie," he told me once.
I laughed and nodded.
That night after training, we discussed our plans.
"So what are we doing? I understand we had to get away, and I get that we have to go somewhere, but..." I stared at the two in front of me.
"I have to avenge him. Garrow was the only family I had aside from Roran. He took care of me all my life, and I will not let his murder go unpunished. We will hunt those beasts... the Ra'zac, and make them pay." To my right Brom sighed, and his brows furrowed deep over his eyes, shadowing them.
"Revenge won't make you feel any better."
"Yes it will. It will allow Garrow to rest in peace, with them dead. It will help me rest easy knowing I changed something, and they can't hurt anyone else."
I need to clear my name of his death. His mind's voice was sad and distressed, like the emotions flowing through our mental link.
"You do realize those things are older, smarter, darker and more magical beings than you, me and most other creatures in Alagaesia? And you, who is still learning how to wield a sword, with no training in the magic field at all, wants to fight them? Do you want to get killed?" Brom was at a normal volume when he started, but as his anger rose so did his voice. His voice was rough, and his eyes dark, angry.
"You may not understand, but I can't just let this go! He was like my father."
"And if you die?"
"It's not like it would matter much. My death wouldn't mean much to anyone but you guys with Garrow gone."
"How could you say that?" I shout, furious. "You are my best friend. I gave up everything to stay with you, and to come on this journey. It wasn't much, but my sister is out there, somewhere, with a child on the way. I should be with her, taking care of her. But I'm not! I came with you to protect you, to be with you damn it! I am not going to let you throw your life away for revenge!" I say as I stand up. The other two get to their feet as well, and Saphira raises her head.
"She is right. Not only that, but you have a duty. your dragon is the last female dragon. Have you ever wondered what happens to the other person in the bond when when one dies?"
"No... What happens?" He asks, glancing over to Saphira.
They die in most cases, but others just go insane. A rare few are able to regain themselves before it is too late, but live on in sadness, emptiness.
He takes a moment for that to sink in, but Brom soon speaks.
"Could you do that to Saphira? Or let her entire species die out because you needed revenge, but weren't strong enough to live through it?"
"No, I wouldn't," he says reluctantly. "But I also don't know what I should do other than go after the Ra'zac. I think we should track them down first, and then decide on a course of action. I am sure we will learn some things along the way that will be useful to us."
I am surprised by his thoughtful answer to a seemingly simple question. Brom allows the argument to rest, so I do as well. We settle down against our little trees in the forest outside of Therinsford. As my eyes drift closed, I watch the clouds drift over a crescent moon.
Now that we're here, you can choose to read or not. My brothers are both doing well now, thanks Payprklip, just so ya'll know, and I really do appreciate the support.
In other news, I took my english finals and let me tell you. That was the easiest final ever. It was literally a seminar, because of the style of class it was, and it was great. Everyone participated, and everyone got and A. Our final question was this: What were the differences and similarities in Epic and Tragic stories, and why are they so relatable? The moment we saw that, we jumped in. Nobody stopped to think, but the ideas that we flowed through were incredible. It fascinates me how deep thoughts in each being run deep in so many different directions when we let them. And how, no matter how long you have known some people, they always are able to see things in a way you can't/ don't. My favorite quote, " We read, listen to and view these stories, we live for just that one moment where we are free. There is no judgment, no thought, just the feeling." (~Ori) My friends afterward told me one thing I hadn't realized I had said that was actually pretty cool was, "We are all on the same track, life, but we are different. In the end though, we have all fought the same demons, just different forms. Same game, different levels." For that quote, my teacher actually gave me 125% on the final, putting my grade at 117% in her class at the end. Great way to finish that huh?
Well, I have math finals soon, I'm gonna study... maybe.
PS sorry about how long that AN was, I don't really talk to people about much.
Lillian M.
