Disclaimer: I in no way shape or form hold any ownership over the inheritance cycle book series nor Skyrim or its various DLCs and mod authors, they are the property of Christopher Paolini, Bethesda Softworks, and the various mod authors. I in no way shape or form shall gain any monetary or non-monetary rewards for authoring this work of fiction outside of any good emotions originating from said authorship. If either Bethesda, Paolini or the mod makers have an issue with me writing this please PM me, please allow me a week or two to get back to you as I don't check my email often.
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It wasn't long before Levos faded into consciousness. He could feel the smooth wood of the table he played upon through his cloak. He attempted to raise his hands but was unable to, that's when he remembered how he had been captured, bound and gagged. Speaking of the gag, he could feel that a deep ache had begun to settle into his jaw from it being forced open for so long.
He quickly noticed that a guard was standing in the corner. Obviously, Levos wasn't as sly as he thought though because the guard rushed to his feet and began to speak.
"You are to appear before the queen with Eragon this afternoon. I am willing to take your gag out to feed you but if I detect any magic then I will have to restrain you. Am I understood." The guard said in a high lilting voice.
Levos began to try and speak, forgetting the gag was in his mouth which meant that nothing more than a light grunting was heard.
"Just nod alright," The guard said.
Levos merely did as he was told and nodded. The guard then got to work removing the now quite slimy gag. Once it had been removed Levos worked his jaw appreciatively. He could tell that it was going to ache for the next few hours.
Once he had the gag out the guard turned and grabbed a small bowl. He pulled it in front of him. It was filled with some vegetables and fruits.
Levos ate silently, he didn't want to speak due to his worry that the guard may mistake him speaking for attempts at magic. At least these elves treated their prisoners well. Magnificently in comparison to how the Altmer treated their prisoners at the embassy.
It wasn't particularly long before the guard stiffened. Seemingly listening to something that only he could hear.
"Alright, the queen wishes to see you now." The guard said pulling away from the remnants of Levos's meal. "A few rules, you will only speak when spoken to. You will not use any magic unless specifically ordered to, And finally, you will not lie or speak ill of the queen. If you break any of these rules then you will be punished."
Great, I'm going to be interrogated. This probably won't go over well. Levos thought mentally readying himself for what was sure to come. the guard then bound levos's hands in front of him but left his hands unbound so that he could walk.
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It wasn't long before levos was lead into a beautiful clearing. He stood before a woman who appeared very similar to Arya, but while she didn't look much older, she had an air about her. An air of magic and of power. Levos held no doubt in his mind that she was a powerful and well-accomplished mage.
It took Levos a moment but he noticed it, but apparently, there was an audience to this...thing. There was an ancient-looking elf standing off to the side of the queen's throne. He looked to be hiding in the shadows. But
"Levos Craiphine" The Arya Doppelganger called out "I am queen Islandazi. And I have some questions for you." she said in a light yet powerful voice. "I have been told that you claim to are a dragonslayer from another, plane, as you call it. Is this true?"
"You're Highness, I admit that I have indeed slain many Dovah, and as far as I am able to tell I am indeed from another plane," Levos responded, trying to recall the lessons on court etiquette that Viarmo had taught him.
"Then I must ask you, why. Why would you murder dragons? Why would you kill such a noble creature?" The queen asked, growing agitated and beginning to raise her voice.
While Levos did try valiantly to resist he could not. He began to bark with laughter at the queen. He could see her stiffen when he began to laugh but he could not stop himself. After a few minutes though he managed to get himself under control. "You fool, you admit that you know that I am of another plane yet you assume that your dragons are the same as my own. The dragons of my land, while as aware and intelligent as the ones of yours, suffer an insatiable hunger for power this leads them to kill and burn, to torture and hoard. I merely responded to save the people of my land from killers. Imagine it, fighting a war against creatures such as the dragons. But while you may slay them. You may sacrifice a thousand warriors but you succeed in felling the dragon. You celebrate all through the night, then, in the wee hours of the morning, you hear a roar. Because upon Nirn the soul of a dragon is a tough as its scaly hide, and given time it returns to its body to continue where it left off. I, as Dovahkiin am the only thing that can slay a dragon. I can absorb their soul to stop them from coming back. So do not speak of murder until you have had to choose between killing and watching those you love being killed." Levos was obviously angry by the end of the tirade. Not a hot fiery anger that leads men to do irrational things, rather a slow, cold, creeping anger. The type that a man can only feel after years of despair, after years of striving to end a great evil where for every success he feels just a little more broken.
The queen's face had begun as anger yet had morphed into a sympathetic sadness. "So that's what I felt" the man muttered, far lower any normal human would have been able to hear.
"What was that?" Levos asked the man behind the throne.
The old elven man began to stare at him as if shocked to be seen, though he seemed to recover quickly. The man stepped forward and came into sharper focus, it was then that Levos realized that he must have been standing in deep shadows.
"Yes, when your mind was probed it was reported that all that was found was hungry, violent spirits." The man said slowly, in a way that reminded Levos of Tolfdir. The man had an ancient and wise voice but it still held enough of its youth to stay strong.
"Yes, those would be the dragon spirits," Levos responded, rather matter of factly.
"Your story is all well and good, but is there anyone who can corroborate it?" The queen asked sounding intrigued but tired.
"Well, you could just go to..." Levos petered off, suddenly having a cruel yet effective idea. "Yes, I know just the way to demonstrate my abilities and to call upon someone who can confirm my story. I'll just need to be taken to an open field that you do not particularly care about." Levos said, rather certainly.
While the queen did seem confirmed that Levos seemed to change his mind halfway through his sentence she did grant his request. She also had Eragon called as well. He seemed rather annoyed by the whole proceeding but for some reason, a quick glare from the old man seemed to silence him. It seemed he respected the man above all else as if he saw the old man as some sort of teacher.
It wasn't long before they reached a large open grassy field that was completely empty. Levos decided it would work and began to explain himself.
"I am going to do a few things here. Firstly I am Going to demonstrate one of my shouts and the power they hold." The group seemed indifferent to that, "Secondly I am going to summon someone who can confirm everything that I have said to you already", still no response, well then time for the big reveal, "Most importantly I am going to do something that even the most powerful of your mages cannot. I am going to raise the dead." That certainly got a reaction. While the queen scoffed at the thought the old man leaned forward looking very interested in the concept. Dragons reaction was the most unexpected though as he simply looked confused.
Without explaining any further Levos stepped forwards and cried out "DUR NEHVIIR!" Levos instantly felt the energy drain from him as his will was put to manifest before him.
A sickly green glow appeared in a circle in the centre of the field. Purple smoke came from the ground, twisting, almost tornado-like in appearance. The grass in the immediate vicinity began to die as a vague purple and black outline began to manifest itself. The smoke began to draw inwards and coalesce as bones began to form. The smoke son began to take on the appearance of a dragon's skeleton. Then scraps of flesh began to grow before ding and hanging limply off its bones. Soon a thick green slime began to drip from the remnants of the glorious dovah. Where the slime dripped to the ground the grass hissed and spat as it gave off a noxious yellow smoke. after a moment small flames in the sockets of the skull grew into the ancient and wise eyes of Levos' friend. Finally, the smoke cleared and a deep, rumbling voice was heard.
"Ah, Qahnaarin. You summon me once more, but not to the familiar Lok of Vus. Krosis, sorrow. Have you fled from Keizaal to live with the other Mal Fahliil?"
"No, my friend. Through means which I cannot explain I arrived in this land. These people have questions. Please answer as best you can. Although try to be gentle. They are unused to the gloriousness of Dovah such as yourself."
The dragon seemed to almost, preen at the compliment. Behind Levos Eragon, the queen and the man seemed, understandably, shocked at what they were seeing.
However, the queen soon earned Levos' respected as she strode forward with as much confidence as she could muster in the presence of something that so blatantly broke all of her known rules of magic. She began to question Durnahviir on Levos' story, which he seemed to simply be confirming. Levos, however, was far more interested in the man who had been standing in the shadows. He approached Levos with a surprising level of confidence for someone who could summon a dragon at will and began to speak.
"I apologize for my earlier secrecy, I am Oromis. I think that we have much to discuss. Please, there is a line of cliffs to the north of Ellesmera, meet us there at first light tomorrow. I'll explain more then."
The man proceeded to walk off without even waiting for an acknowledgement of what he had said. Once he had left Eragon walked up to Levos and said, "Looks like you'll be staying with Saphira and I tonight considering that the queen doesn't seem to be in any state to grant you shelter" He said glancing over his shoulder at the queen, whos fear had morphed into curiosity at everything the dragon said. "Follow me I'll take you to where we'll be staying."
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Levos was amazed by everything he saw as they walked towards Eragon's tower, well technically just the riders tower but being the last rider had some perks. The elves were amazing architects, moulding the plants to their whims with magic and making everything grow in beautiful patterns. Once they got there Levos rolled out his bedroll after retrieving it from his personal storage but then remembered that he didn't have any of his items. However, Eragon cleared that issue up quickly.
"Look, Levos, I'm sorry for what happened. I didn't think that they would react this way to you. I'm sorry all you're stuff got taken. I'll ask my teacher tomorrow about it so we can get it back. I expected today to go very differently, I'm sorry." Eragon said, obvious emotion entering his voice as Levos could tell that he truly was sorry.
"Worry not Eragon," Levos said trying to comfort the boy. "Oh, by the way, that man who was with us told me to meet him at daybreak tomorrow by the cliffs north of here, would you be able to show me the way?" Levos asked.
"Yes, I'll show you the way in the morning.' Eragon said while laying down in his bed.
Levos slept as well as he could that night, he was comfortable but this place had nothing on a coffin.
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Well, there's the next chapter, I know this is a little late but happy holidays and have a good new year. Please review and critique.