Chapter 45: Denials and Remembrances

Ebrithil?

Yes hatchling. Glaedr asked, his tone a lot softer than it used to be. It seemed that he really was happy to speak to him, Eragon thought. Glaedr must have felt this, and Eragon sensed pride in his mind.

Not everyone gets to be the mentor of the special Rider who has been foretold in the oldest prophecy of the dragons.

Eragon smiled to himself, but he knew that it was thanks to his masters that he was like this.

And not every dragon and Rider get as great mentors as you and Oromis, ebrithil.

You honor us, young one, but you haven't contacted me for idle conversations, have you?

No, master, what have the other dragons said about our request for aid?

Disappointment emanated from the golden dragon's eldunari at this.

Some have agreed to help us, whereas the others have said that they do not wish to be used as mere tools again. All they wish for us to do is to smash them so that they can join their loved ones in the void. There is no way I can convince them…

Eragon was exasperated and rather angry when he heard this, they could not defeat Galbatorix unless all the dragons in those eldunarya joined them. He asked, How many have agreed to help us?

I think five-and-thirty. Six-and-thirty including me but that is all, none of the others wish to help us, or don't want to.

Is there no way to persuade them?

There is, but only Vrael knew how it. No other Rider could convince the eldunari to follow him or her.

I see…

Don't give up hope Eragon. I shall always assist you, and remember what your father and Oromis said. Strength alone does not decide the victor; you need to be clever as well. Brom was clever, so he could defeat all his opponents. I doubt even you could defeat him in a true match where you need to use your metal fangs, and mind to attack together.

Perhaps, but ebrithil, how will we defeat Galbatorix if I don't have enough strength to overwhelm him? Assuming I do enter his mind through some loophole, then I would need to overwhelm all his thoughts and destroy his barriers from within before they can squeeze and extinguish my mind out.

I see you have grown cautious, very good, but we will have to figure this out ourselves. Not now, but later, when we can discuss it with all the dragons. They may not wish to aid you with their strength, but they will surely give you their advice.

Let us hope they will. . . Ebrithil, I have another thing that I wished to know, it is about Valinor.

Who?

Ellesmerald, Arya changed his name to Valinor.

I see, what do you want to know? You know he is my son…

Yes, forgive me if I sound impertinent, but who is his mother?

Rage came to Glaedr at this question. He seemed ready to throw Eragon out of his mind at that very instant, and would have done worse had he would have had his own body.

Do not ask me that again, hatchling! I shall not tolerate it…

Eragon had expected such a reply, but he was perturbed nevertheless.

But why master, even he has a right to know his heritage.

Now is not the time, I shall tell him when he is ready for it. Do not tell him about me either, not now at least.

. . . .As you wish

Now I suggest you rest. We will be reaching Du Fells Nangoroth tomorrow, and I want you to be fresh.

Of course master.

Eragon retreated into himself from Glaedr's mind, then turned around to see Arya. They were halfway through the Haradac Desert, and had left the Varden the day before yesterday. They were going to reach Du Fells Nangoroth the next day.

"Yes Arya?" Eragon asked as he placed Glaedr into a small sack.

"I just wanted to be with you, nothing else." Arya replied, then spread her bedroll next to his.

Eragon silently lay down, and placed the eldunari next to him. Arya lay her head on his chest, and embraced his body. It was dark, and the dragons were exhausted but their Riders were pleased with the distance they had covered.

"Eragon, what did Glaedr tell you? I am your mate, I need to know. I thought we were not going to keep any secrets from each other." Arya asked, looking up at him.

Eragon looked at her, then placed his hand over the sack next to him.

Master?

What is it now, Eragon?

I don't know if you have learnt of this, but I and Arya are mates now.

The dragon was extremely amused when he heard this, and Eragon could tell that he was chuckling mentally, but he continued.

I promised that I would not keep any secrets from her, so can I tell her about the Rock of Kuthian?

The dragon considered his words, then asked him.

Do you trust her?

With my life

With Saphira's?

Yes

Well then you have permission to tell her and her only. Have her promise that she will not tell anyone else about this. . . Now tell me, when did this happen?

The thing Eragon really wanted to do at the moment was retreat back into himself, but, he thought, it wouldn't be too bad if Glaedr knew.

When we rescued Murtagh from Uru'baen.

Good, enjoy and treasure your time with her, for you never know when it might be taken away from you.

Yes Master, I will.

Eragon retreated to himself, then smiled at Arya, "Yes, I can tell you, but you must promise me that you will not tell anyone else this. Not even Valinor."

Arya looked at him questioningly, then replied in the Ancient Language, "I promise I won't tell anyone this, not even Valinor."

Eragon nodded, then told her all that Glaedr had told him about the Rock of Kuthian and how he believed that Eragon was the special dragon Rider. He told her about the festivals, and the creation of the first werecat, and how even he felt it was true due to what Solembum had said to him. Saphira, Thorn, Valinor and Murtagh were asleep, but Eragon and Arya continued talking.

When he was done, awe and wonder was on Arya's face, "This, this is something I never even considered! Kuthian… Yes, that was the dragon that had first used magic. That is why I had problem remembering it, for it had been written down somewhere and I had read it. But then, why couldn't I remember it sooner?"

Eragon kissed her tenderly, "I don't know, but there is no need to know about it now. Let us rest, for we have to reach there by tomorrow."

Arya smiled and laid her head on his chest as usual, then said, "Eragon, I wonder if Naeivya is alright. She really was hurt when you rejected her, though she may not have been as hurt as you had been when I-I did the same thing to you. . . she didn't even take your advice and apologize to me."

Eragon looked up at the sky which was dotted with countless stars, "I don't know, Arya. I don't know if she is alright. She might be, for I asked Blodhgarm to keep an eye on her lest she should do something foolish."

Arya relaxed again, then asked, "Can you show me the memory of when I rejected you?"

Eragon was unsure whether he should consent, then decided it would be best to let her know. He entered her mind,

Here goes, close your eyes.

He sent her the memory, and felt her emotions at it. He knew that she immediately noticed how he had been observing her, then how he had felt when they had arrived at the tunnel like cluster of trees. She felt him lose control of himself, and the desperation he felt when she answered him in the negative. She noticed the hurt and pain he felt when she rejected him completely, then saw him fall to the ground, crying uncontrollably. Eragon ended the memory there, and made to return to his own mind, but she stopped him.

Tell me, how you felt after I left you?

Eragon knew that she would be angry with herself, but he did not reject.

I felt hurt and pained. I regretted what I did, and I swore never to repeat such foolishness again. But I don't understand, you said that we could never be together, then how are we…?

I told a half-lie then. I meant that the same person you were at that time could not be with me. You changed so much that I understood that in the end we could be together.

The credit for my change goes to you as well. Had you not rejected me, I would not have been as I am now.

I suppose it was for the best, though I still am sorry about it.

If you really are then give me the best kiss you can, and then let us sleep.

Arya smiled and gave him the sweetest and the most tender kiss she could. They kissed each other for a long time, treasuring their time together.

"I never even imagined that such a time would come." Arya said, as they let go of each other. Eragon smiled at her, then pulled her closer to himself.

"There is a cause for problems, though. I don't know how we will defeat Galbatorix without the help of all the dragons. We need their aid, but we can't force them to help us. What can we do?" Eragon asked, his thoughts of the battle that was imminent. If they did not get more aid, then they would surely lose to Galbatorix.

"Let us try and talk to them later on." Arya closed her eyes.

"I will talk to them now itself, I must try to convince them. Maybe… if they understand that I am the special Rider who has been mentioned by the dragon who first used magic, then they might help us." Eragon said.

He and Arya hurried to the saddlebags, and tried to contact the dragons but to no avail. The dragons refused to respond to them, and they ignored them even when he and Arya swore in the Ancient Language that they meant them no harm.

After several tense and irritating minutes, Eragon and Arya slumped into their blankets. Eragon was in a particularly foul mood. He had lost all his patience when the dragons did not even respond to them.

"Calm down Eragon. Getting angry is useless, calm down so we can find a way out of this." Arya said, as she sat down next to him.

"And what way might that be?" Eragon snapped at her. Then he realized that he was shouting at her for no reason.

"Sorry, I should have controlled myself better. You are just trying to help…" Eragon muttered to her, then dipped his head. Arya cupped his face in her arms, and turned it to look at hers. In that instant, her mind washed away all the anger and frustration from his mind. Grateful, Eragon kissed her, wrapping his arms around her body. Though they both knew that it was hopeless now. The eldunari were the only thing that could help them, and since they had denied help, all hope was lost. But the couple tried not to think about it.

"Enough of this Eragon, now show me the most favorite lesson that Oromis taught you." Arya said as she noticed his emotions. Eragon looked at her and nodded.

They joined their minds, and Eragon sent her a memory of the lesson he had received just a few days after the Agaeti Blodhren.

Oromis was standing in his house, supporting himself with the table. Eragon stood up after he finished writing the long answer about the nature of plants found in the Spine.

"Very good Eragon, very good indeed! You have improved considerately, almost alarmingly. . . .Now, we have a little practical lesson, outside. I shall need your support though; I am rather weak as of now." Oromis said as Eragon got up and hastened to his master's side.

They walked outside the house to the edge of the cliff, where Oromis and Eragon stood face to face. Oromis was standing with the support of a wooden stick that Eragon hurriedly picked up for him from the ground.

"So Eragon, today we shall discuss about loyalty, obedience and faith." Oromis said, and began circling around Eragon. Eragon nodded and stared at the ground.

"Do you trust me, Eragon?" Oromis asked from behind him.

"I do"

"Will you obey each and every command that I give you?" Oromis asked as he limped around the side.

"I will, master."

"Then I ask you to tell me why you are so downtrodden nowadays." Oromis stood right in front of Eragon, who kept looking at the ground.

"I have lost a good friend, master, due to my own foolishness. And I wish to apologize for my mistake, but she is not here."

"Is it Arya?" Oromis asked quietly.

"Yes, it is…" Eragon replied, then looked over the edge of the cliff.

"Do you really regret what you did?" Oromis began pacing around him again.

"I do"

"Then I command you to jump off this cliff." Oromis said, and stood behind Eragon.

Eragon whirled around, astonished, "Master, jump down this cliff?"

Oromis smiled, "Yes Eragon, down this cliff. Right now!"

Eragon gave him a hard look, then looked at the ground again.

Saphira, are you here yet?

Yes Eragon, we are just above you.

Then do me a favor, don't let Oromis see you, and catch me when I jump down the cliff.

Eragon, are you crazy?

Just do as I say.

. . . . Fine, wait until I am ready

"Master, you are sure that you want me to jump down the cliff?" Eragon asked, and turned to face the edge.

"Yes Eragon, I am sure" Oromis replied, his smile still present, "I thought you were going to obey my each and every command, then why not this one?"

Eragon gave him a smile as well then crouched, preparing for the dive.

I am ready, little one.

"I promised that I shall obey all your commands, so I shall obey this one as well." Eragon said, and sprinted as fast as he could towards the edge and jumped off, ignoring Oromis's call," Stop Eragon, I didn't…"

He fell a several feet, the wind whipping his face, and landed on his feet just on top of Saphira's back.

That was fun.

Now, tell me what this is all about.

Take us back up there, I'll tell you on the way. . . .Oromis wanted me to obey his each and every command, and he ordered me to jump down the cliff. So I did, and I asked you to catch me.

This will amuse him for sure.

They flew towards the crags, and landed next to the hut. Glaedr was nowhere to be seen.

"Eragon, don't ever do something like that again." Oromis said in an angry tone as he limped towards them. Eragon was sure that he would have got a few jabs from the stick if Oromis had been in a better condition.

"Master, you told me to jump down the cliff, so I asked Saphira to be there. Only when she was in place did I jump down." Eragon said, getting off Saphira, who growled in consent.

"It was extremely reckless on your part, don't be so irresponsible again." Oromis said in the same tone, though there was a hint of amusement in his eyes.

Glaedr was grinning as he glided down to them.

Oromis, Saphira told me Eragon's plan. He was not being irresponsible. He was just showing that he had enough common sense to obey your command and still keep himself alive. . . This hatchling is bright, just like Brom.

Perhaps Glaedr.

Glaedr landed behind him and the entire hill shook as he laughed loudly. Oromis gave a look of relief and began to laugh as well.

Eragon ended the memory there, and pulled himself out of Arya's mind.

"That was quite reckless, but clever of you." Arya said, eyeing him sternly.

"I know it was reckless, but things hardly mattered to me after you rejected me. I thought I would be doing you a favor by… never mind. But that was the first time I did something Oromis did not expect me to." Eragon said, and laughed as he remembered the look on his master's face.

"I am sure he was quite angry at you after that."

Eragon kissed her on the forehead, then drew the blankets over them and said, "No, he wasn't, he just stopped underestimating me."