Chapter 9
This chapter is rated T
Eragon smiled as dry air blew up into his face. Eragon, Arya, Eridor and Saphira were flying high above the vast Hadarac Desert.
They had set out from the Varden the day previous and were making steady progress to Gil'ead where Arya's family was residing. Eragon sat in the saddle with one of Arya's hands around his waist. In the other hand she held a small rope that Eridor was using to glide. Eridor would hold one end of the rope in his small jaws while Arya steered him like a kite with the other end. Eridor greatly enjoyed flying, and he did it all the time now. Eragon scanned the barren landscape laid out before him. He could see nothing but the vast amounts of sand that filled the desert, and there was still no sign of reaching the end. They flew on through the night in order to arrive at Gil'ead in time.
The five great races of Alagaesia met together in the Vault Of Souls. It was built into a great diamond many times larger than Isidar Mithrim, and a large diamond encrusted chest lay in the center. A dwarf man with iridescent armour placed something within the chest and quickly left.
Next an elf man with a flowing gold and red velvet cape stalked in and left a small box in the chest. He hurried away, as another man entered. He wore grey clothing, and everything about his composure radiated power. He put a hand on the diamond vault, and collapsed upon the floor. Another man entered and carried him out of the vault. Last of all a great white dragon and rider entered The Vault. The dragon lifted a leg and dropped something upon the floor of The Vault. The dragon left and the rider remained alone. He lifted his silver palm and closed the chest. He engraved words into the diamond floor, and then slid the chest on top of it, effectively hiding them. He walked out of the vault without a second glance and the diamond door slid shut to never be opened again.
Eragon gasped for air and snapped his eyes open as the dream ended. He was in Saphira's saddle with his head resting in Arya's lap. Her delicate fingers were slowly running through his hair, and he heard her softly talking to Eridor. Eragon groaned and sat up. He turned around to see Arya looking at him with a curious expression. Her hair was flying in the wind, and Eridor was perched on her shoulder looking down at the world below him.
"Eragon are you well?" Saphira and Arya asked at the same time.
Eragon laughed and bent over to kiss Arya.
"I am well, I just experienced an odd vision." He replied. Eragon could feel Saphira grow jealous when he gave his attention to Arya first. He laughed again and gave her a mental embrace. Saphira hummed approvingly and returned the mental embrace.
"Well what did you dream of?" Arya asked.
" I cannot explain, allow me to show you." He touched Arya's mind and she let him in. He showed Saphira and Arya the memory of the dream, and they were both equally confused by it.
" We must ask Glaedr about this memory when he returns." Arya said.
Eragon groaned at the mention on his former masters name. He had been desperately trying to forget that fateful night when his masters had been slain. Eragon shuddered as he remembered Glaedr's final thoughts. He felt Arya move closer to him in the saddle, and he smiled at the thought of her being a Shadeslayer as he was. He sighed as Arya slid her sword arm around his waist.
She is my perfect mate... He thought.
And you mine... Arya replied. Eragon felt his ears go red as he realized that Arya was still in his mind.
Would you like to have a family with me one day Arya? He asked.
Arya thought about it for a while and then finally replied, When this war is over I will have a family with you Eragon.
Eragon smiled and kissed Arya. He was happy that Arya loved him enough to take him seriously now, and that he would one day have a child with her.
Arya why are elf children so rare? He asked.
Elf children are not like human children Eragon. Elf children spend about twenty years in their mother's womb before they are born. Many elves become afraid that there mate will leave them during that time, so they don't take the risk.
Eragon silently thought about what Arya had said. He was proud that Arya loved him enough to take that risk, but it also disturbed him. It led him to another question that he felt was wrong to ask Arya about, but he asked anyway. Lovers don't hold back, he told himself.
What if the elf doesn't want the child? What if they were ...raped...? Eragon asked.
He felt Arya stiffen against his back, and her arms constricted around his waist making it hard for him to breathe. She remained quiet for a long time, so he started to apologize.
Arya I am sorry for asking- He was cut off as Arya stopped him.
It's alright Eragon, I just don't like talking about these subjects, but you have the right to know, so I will answer your question. When an elf is born certain spells are cast on them. The spells don't drain any energy, but they allow us to live more productive lives. These spells are called the Endeavour spells. There are different ones for males and females, and it is the parents job to choose if they want them on their child. One of the spells for women is called the spell of birth. it allows elf maids such as myself to choose whether we want a child or not. The spell is worded so that only the one who will carry the child has the choice. Does that answer your question Eragon?
Yes, I think it does, he replied, You have given me much to think about.
Arya left his mind and started flying Eridor. The little dragon was overjoyed to be back in the air after the long and boring discussion his rider was involved in. Arya laughed as she understood what he was thinking.
Later that evening they finally spotted the supply train. It was huge. The train stretched across the land like a river of red and white uniforms. In the center of the marching army were the supplies. They were being transported by covered wagons, and there was enough to outlast any siege. Saphira landed about two leagues away from it in a clump of trees. They could hear soldiers boots as they marched across the land simultaneously bringing their feet down upon the land, creating heavy thumps. Eridor was very intimidated by the sound and he refused to leave Saphira's saddle. However Eragon and Arya jumped off to scout out the area.
Eragon crept through the underbrush with Brisingr to hand, and Arya followed silently behind with a drawn bow. Something felt wrong about the place. Everything seemed fake and unreal. The sky seemed to turn grey as they walked towards a small clearing. Eragon was about to move a branch out of the way when it disappeared. Three men in black cloaks suddenly appeared in the center of the clearing. Arya loosed an arrow at one but it just disappeared. and reappeared a second later. Illusions, Eragon realized. He told Arya and they both looked around for the enemy magician. Eragon stayed close to Arya, blood pounded in his ears. They could not be captured now, they had come too far.
Eragon looked upwards and saw that Saphira was circling above them. He contacted her and told her of their current situation.
If we are captured you are to fly straight back to the Varden. Tell them what happened and don't let Eridor out of your sight. Saphira reluctantly agreed and Eragon turned back to look around the clearing.
The black figures had multiplied, there were now a whole dozen of them. They stood in a circle and watched their every move. Eragon spoke once more with Arya and told her to retreat.
And yet as soon as she started to back away, they advanced with speed that was reserved for elves. They slashed and shot at their attackers but if their weapons appeared to reach their target, they always vanished, and it was impossible to tell if a foe was real or not.
From above Saphira gave them even more distressing news. The entire supply train and army was a giant illusion. They all disappeared right after the charge. Eragon was truly worried now. If the entire supply train was a illusion it would take a very powerful magician to supply the energy. It also meant that the entire mission was a trap. Eragon stabbed at another illusion, and was aggravated at its disappearance. He raised his word to block a stroke by another when they all suddenly departed.
Now they were replaced by different illusions. Ones that looked just like him and Arya. The ones that looked like him started to attack Arya, and the ones that looked like her started attacking him. Eragon desperately tried to look over the illusions before he attacked them but they were too fast, and he was forced to attack without. The illusions endured the battle for relentless minutes without pausing. They knew of course that they were all illusions, but they couldn't take the chance that one of them might be real.
Eragon slashed at one of the illusions that had its back turned. His eyes widened as his blade struck solid flesh. Arya fell to the ground screaming with pain. Eragon yelled and ran over to her fallen body. Tears blurred his vision as he flipped her over and tried to heal her. He healed her as fast as we capable of doing, but Arya shoved him away, tears glittering her eyes. She struck a look at him that forced him to curse whatever dark magicians had made the illusions. Arya rose and dashed away from him. He started to run after her, but some blunt object struck him across the head and he fell to the ground. He faintly heard Arya scream and fall next to him. The last thing he saw was Saphira blast fire into the air and roar. He knew that she would come back for him.
Eragon's vision darkened until he was passed out on the grassy floor.
AN: OK guys sorry for not updating for so long... My beta's just seem to disappear these days... anyway, I'm going to post a very short chapter sometime this week, but if you havn't please check out my new " you choose" fanfiction called icy pain in a forest. It might seem a little weird, but i wanted to do something with Arya getting burned for a LONG time...
Arya: What are you talking about I never got burned?
Me: *ignores Arya* Also, I think i can now manage the twice a week update rate again thanks to my new beta Articwolfstudios. He updates really fast, and i'm really glad to have him as a beta. Elvin blade if you are reading this just know that I am assuming that your phone broke.
Eridor: LOOPY!
HAPPY BOB THE BUILDER OF STUFF DAY!
bob the builer of stuff day is when I update all my stories at once! hope you guys like it!
