Chapter 21. The Forest of DuWeldenvarden
Katina had grown as a person in every area of her life. Mentally she was confident, strong, independent, quick witted, and fare minded. Her heart was on the mend over the loss of Arron, then there was her confusing emotions about Kailen. Katrina would never admit out loud that she liked the pig, but a friendship was slowly developing between the two. She would often scry her parents to make sure they were safe and they were. Her bond with Soarren had changed her a great deal. She no longer slept but had what Elva referred to as the waking dream. She would close her eyes, but Katrina was aware of everything that was going on around her.
("Katrina!")
She was in her waking dream state when a vast and powerful mind touched her mind. ("Who is there? Identify yourself!") She demanded.
("My name is Linnea.")
("Address me in the ancient language-that I may know you speak the truth.") There was silence, ("Well speak to me or are you a servant of the Emperor?")
("I am sorry but I cannot speak the ancient language-You see...") She sighed, ("this will be hard for you to believe-My mother was the Menoa Tree-She is dead-and I was created after Eragon Shadeslayer begged my mother for the Star Metal buried under her roots-but I was made from her will and the energy she took from Eragon-I cannot speak the ancient language because-Well because it was never taught to me-I was a seedling hidden in my mother's bark-She died a hundred years ago-The Emperor knows not of my existence-I can awaken the Elves asleep and imprisoned here in the forest, but I need your help-Come to me in the forest Katrina Strong and we can help each other.")
("How can I believe you? Why should I believe you?")
("You are a Dragon Rider-Follow your instincts-Come or don't come-I must go now-My mother is dead, but the Emperor controls the tree walkers and there are cats that live in the forest who serve the Emperor. I hope you come to me Rider-If the Emperor's servants capture me all will be lost.")
("Hello! Hello!") Katrina searched with her mind and found no one.
("I believe her!) Soarren said speaking up.
("You heard all that?")
("Of course I did-We are connected.")
Katrina sat up, but Soarren wasn't in their cave home, ("Where are you anyway?")
("I was hungry and I needed to go hunting-when I return we must address this with Evander.")
Katrina shook her head, ("They will never agree to it!")
("You must make them agree-at anyrate pack my saddle-You are my Rider and I say we are going!")
Katrina packed her saddle and when she felt that Soarren was inside the city she contacted Evander, Galmore, Elva, Aiedel, Tala, and Solombum with her mind. They all met in Evander's office before sunrise. They listened intently as Katrina explained about the mysterious Linnea who contacted her. ("Whether you approve or not I believe her and I am taking my Rider to DuWeldenvarden with or without your consent.") Soarren said vehemently.
"Well you give us little choice Master Soarren." Evander said folding his arms. Everyone looked at Galmore, as the elder Dragon would be the only one who could talk Soarren out of it.
("I don't like it either-This could be a trap, but if Soarren is confident-Then we must go.")
"This could be a trap!" Aiedel said.
"Solombum you have been quiet." Evander said.
"My vision is blind in this-My council would be to scry the forest, but the Emperor has made it impossible to do so-If we do this then we do it right. A guard of fifty heavily armed men will accompany them."
"It will be faster if we can fly-The Guards will slow us down."
"The desert is filled with creatures created by the Emperor-Giant scorpions and sand howlers-Not to mention Ordrin himself who is hunting you-The people we send will be able to keep up."
That day they left the city to travel towards Duweldenvarden. They cut across the heart of the desert angling towards Ellesmera. They guards flew on magically altered horses with wings following Galmore and Soarren through the air. Katrina walked up to Galmore, "That mountain-what's it called?"
"In the old tongue it is called the rock of Kuthian."
"SCORPION!" Someone yelled.
The giant creature snatched the man with his claw, but Kailen threw his word like a spear and hit the creature in the face. He took out a second sword and ran towards the Scorpian sliding on his knees when he got close. He managed to slash the Scorpion's soft underbelly, but that didn't slow it down. "SlYTHA!" Katrina yelled trying to put the great insect to sleep.
"NO!" Elva yelled, but it was too late. The magical attack caused Scorpion to double in size.
("Everyone-Get back!") Galmore yelled. The Scorpion tried to sting him, but Galmore snatched its tail and slammed it onto its back, while Soarren leapt into the air and tried to dive on the giant insect. The Scorpion got back on its legs and slashed its tail at Soarren as he dove on him. The guards shot their arrows but the Scorpion was to well armored.
("Soarren pick me up!") Katrina yelled with her mind.
Galmore tackled the Scorpion and Elva watched in horror as her bond partner wrestled in the sand with the Scorpion. The Scorpion jabbed Galmore with his stinger and back away as the poison took affect on the great Dragon. "NO!" Elva screamed.
Soarren dropped Katrina from a hundred feet high and she landed on the Scorpion's head stabbing her sword into it's head. Katrina removed the blade as the stinger came towards her back, she cut the tip of the tail off and stabbed the Scorpion again. It went still and bled to death in the sand. Katrina jumped off the Scorpion and ran to Elva who was trying to heal Galmore. Katrina added her power to Elva's but nothing happened.
"This better be worth all the trouble!" Elva said to Katrina after she burned Galmore's body. As she walked off Soarren growled at her.
DuWeldenvarden
The great forest came into sight three days later. Katrina tried to speak with Elva, but she refused to speak with anyone. They cautiously entered the forest and immediately was attacked by two tree walkers and a werecat. Solumbum killed the werecat and Aiedel and Elva destroyed the two walkers. The forest had grown wild and deadly without the Elves and the Menoa Tree.
"No one has walked these paths in over a thousand years." Solombum said in a reverential tone of voice.
It almost seemed as if the forest was watching them all ready to kill the first person stupid enough to wonder away from the others. Another week passed when they came into sight of the ancient city of Ellesmera. There were leaves everywhere and the tree houses still kept their shapes, but many of them were covered in vines. The ground shook causing everyone to draw their weapons, they all gasped when a great bear was standing before them. What was the most shocking thing about the bear was that it stood on its legs and walked like a man. It had green glowing eyes, brown and black fur, and it licked its mouth with its tongue.
"Welcome to DuWeldenvarden!" The bear said speaking like an Urgal with a deep gurgling sound, "My name is Kosar-Linnea is waiting for you come with me."
All they could do was follow the bear with dumbfounded expressions, "Um Kosar-Are there others like you?" Tala asked.
"Old magic lingers here in the forest and the city-It has changed many animals-Some of them are benevolent-others are pure evil and then there are those who have sworn themselves to the Emperor. I am the guardian of the this city-I protect it for the day the Elves return."
Kosar lead them to the old Menoa tree, but when they reached the treea wall of fire erupted around it. "ORDRIN!" Katrina barked.
The Shade Elf landed on his black horse, "We meet again Rider and you Elva Farseer." Kosar roared at him, "Kosar my old friend-I shall enjoy this greatly." He swung his ax while Kosar swung his claw-There was a loud clang like two swords hitting each and then there was a blast wave that threw people to the ground and uprooted trees. Ordrin fell of his horse which became a great lion and tackled Kosar.
"DIE!" When Ordrin got to his knees Katrina was standing over him. She tried to best the Shade but he was just as skilled with his ax as she was with her sword. Elva joined her and so did Kailen, the others were busy fighting Tree Walkers. Then all of a sudden the wind started blowing and scooped Ordrin, all his comrades, and threw them towards the desert.
"Thank you for coming! You are safe now!" A beautiful young woman wearing a crown of golden branches and a gown made of leaves. Her hair flowed long and it shimmered like water, it also sounded like water when she moved. She had a shield that resembled a great rose and a willow wand staff in her hand. "I am Linnea daughter of the Menoa Tree."