Deathbed (An Eragon Love Story Part 50)
Brom smiled and faced Eragon. "Take care of Saphira. Without her, you'll find that life is hardly worth living."
"Brom, no. I will not let you die; not for my mistake. I need you!"
"No. It is I who has always needed you." Brom said quietly. It was still dark outside, the cool night wind lightly blowing with the moon high in the sky. The stars shone gaily as if nothing were amiss. Everyone was gathered around the old man hoping that he will pull through, even though they knew he wouldn't.
"If only I could heal his insides." Cried Eragon. He was not the only one either. Kiara felt that it was all her fault.
"Shh…Eragon," Arya placed her smooth hand over his, "Let him die with pride, as a Dragon Rider!"
Right after, Saphira roared, the sound strong and brave in the dark hour.
Once more Brom smiled up at his friends, then closed his eyes to breathe his last.
When he was pronounced dead, Kiara cried harder. Eragon teared up as well, but no where near the capacity of the woman's. Slowly, she made her way into his arms and continued to cry on his shoulder. He rocked her from side to side trying to calm her down. Arya watched, unsure why her cousin did not let up. She was deeply saddened by Brom's death as well, but she did not put up a huge fit. "Come now, Kiara, get a hold of yourself."
Arya's words stung her ears. She quit her wailing, but the tears still fell, silently down her rosy cheeks. They glimmered in the moonlight like little diamonds. Eragon held her tightly as if at any moment someone would try to steal her away. He understood her grief very well. In detail, he revealed to Arya how she insisted on saving her. When he finished, Arya was at a loss for words.
For a while nothing stirred and all was quiet. Eventually, Saphira nuzzled Eragon, "We need to bury Brom."
"You're right." Eragon lifted up Kiara's chin, kissed her lips which were soiled from her salty tears, and said softly, "Brom needs to be tended to." She shook her head in approval, saying nothing as their embrace ended.
Together, Eragon and Arya lifted up Brom and carried him to a large clearing that overlooked the vast wilderness in which they were in. To their pleasure, sandstone was plentiful, so they started to pile them around Brom like that of a tomb.
The sun was nearly up when they finished. Kiara was in better spirits when the old man was properly buried. Saphira looked at their work, studying it like a teacher. Then she arched her neck and began blowing hot fumes onto the tomb. Eragon repeated what she said to him out loud: "I cannot breathe fire yet, but I can do this for Brom. Now time cannot ravage him."
The sandstone cooked in the extreme heat turning into pure diamond. None of them have seen such a sight before and marveled at Saphira's gift for Brom. Done, the dragon closed her mouth and stood on her hind legs and spread out her wings. In respect she lowered her head and hummed a lament. The diamond tomb sparkled in the suns light. Inside the outline of Brom could be seen; he look very peaceful as if he were only sleeping.
"Who will remember him?" Eragon asked. Even though he meant it to be a rhetorical question, Arya answered him.
"Many people will, because of you."
