Love Across Boundaries
This has been eating at me for a long time now so I figured "what the hell just write it". I also love the Eragon/Saphira pairing and if done right it makes more sense than Eragon/Arya, plus who doesn't love dragons seriously. The setting is during Eldest with some flashbacks to Eragon and they are on their way to Hedarth from Farthen Dur. I did update it just to fix a couple word errors and changed the part before the first flashback to make more sense instead of it just going there.
On another note, I finally got another job interview lined up on Friday and another on Monday so fingers crossed.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, all characters are copyright of Christopher Paolini.
The rays of the morning sun hit Eragon just enough to rouse him from his sleep. Attempting to swat away what he could never hit he finally gave up and opened one brown eye before he shut it as the sun hit him squarely in the face. Bringing a hand to his face to shield it from the sun he slowly opened his eyes and blinked them a couple of times to clear away the sleepiness before trying to sit up. Keyword being tried as when he began to move a sleepy huff of irritation came from his right.
Glancing to his right he was met with an eyeful of sapphire colored scales with matching wings and two three-fingered clawed hands and feet and finally ending in a long sapphire tail. A line of white spikes adorned the back and two white horns jutted straight back from the head. With a final huff, Saphira opened her bright sapphire eyes as she gazed in Eragon's brown eyes and she gave a very dragon-like smile that displayed sharp ivory teeth.
"I take it you slept well?" Eragon asked with a slight smile as Saphira gave him a curt nod.
"As I always do next to you." Saphira responded with a soft feminine tone. "What about you Eragon?"
Eragon gave her a bright smile and a small kiss on her lips. "The same as you my love." Saphira gave his cheek a lick before she settled back down and tried to sleep as Eragon shook his head with a smile. 'And to think, this all started when I pestered Brom to go inside a ruin.' Eragon told himself as he thought back to the day when he convinced Brom to allow them to at least look at the interior of Utgard.
-Flashback-
"We might find something there about the Ra'zac or even the King that might help!" Eragon protested hotly as Brom looked at him.
"Eragon, no one has been in there for over a century and with the shape it's in a small step might send it crumbling down." Brom said as he waved off Eragon's concerns.
Eragon continued to pester him for the next 20 minutes before Brom finally relented. "For bloody sake what's gotten into you boy?"
Eragon thought for a moment before he spoke. "I just want to look, if I am to be the next Rider then I need to know more about them and the chance to find out anything more is too good to pass up, plus we might find out about some hoard of eggs still out there or even some knowledge about how Galbatorix got so powerful." Eragon finished as Brom gave him a curious look but Eragon swore he saw a gleam of approval in his eyes.
"Very well and I just know a path to get up there." Brom said as Eragon stared at him.
"You tricked me!" Eragon nearly shouted as Brom laughed and in his mind he heard Saphira also laughing. The entire way up the path, Eragon grumbled about crotchety old men and dragons ganging up on him.
The next hour was spent in the interior of the tower and true to Brom's word it was dusty and decrepit and many of the documents and scrolls were weather-worn but still readable and their search bore more fruit than either of them thought. Not only had they found out about more about the Ra'zac and the history of the Riders but they also found that a store of eggs had indeed survived if one of the last messages for Vrael were any indication. Getting to the eggs was going to be near impossible at the moment but the fact that there were more out there was heartening to Saphira and she was in high spirits the rest of the day.
"Was this tower used for an archive or for defense?" Eragon asked as he brought out more scrolls.
"Supposedly for defense but this..." Brom trailed off he looked over another scroll. "Gather all that you can and pack them away but be careful with them." Brom finished as he rolled the scroll up and put it in stack. There was enough information here to not only update Rider history but also to give the Varden more information with regards to Galbatorix and his past as well as information regarding just how he became more powerful. 'So the elves want to keep us in the dark about just how he has done this but expect us to trust them with everything we know.' Brom thought with a frown. Islandzadi and Oromis had a lot of answers and it was high time they gave them.
Neither of them saw Saphira sneak a scroll into the saddle bag tied to her.
-Flashback end-
"Reminiscing again my mate?" Saphira asked as Eragon nodded and she ran her claws smoothly across his chest.
"Just wondering what possessed you to hide a scroll away from us." Eragon answered as Saphira yawned and sat up. With one smooth movement she was on her feet standing tall and stretching while giving Eragon a show of her flexibility.
"Just a small suspicion in the back of my head." Saphira replied as she grinned at him and he got up and gave her a deep kiss. "Keep that up and we might have a second round before we go back." she said as they parted, her long reptilian tongue running over her lips.
"And possibly a third and fourth." Eragon added as Saphira pressed her scaled body against his.
"You are awfully eager this morning my mate." Saphira said as Eragon wrapped his arms around her and pressed his forehead against her head.
"I just feel...happier than I have ever been." Eragon answered truthfully as Saphira hummed.
"I am glad my love but what is really on your mind?" Saphira asked as Eragon sighed.
"Why me exactly; why not just wait for one of the other eggs?" Eragon asked as Saphira gently ran her hands down his back.
"Why would I settle for less than the one who shares my heart Eragon? You know me better than any other person or dragon alive and no one shall ever occupy my attention the way you have. You have done more than anyone else could dream of and despite all the hardship life has thrown at you, you still continue to be my Eragon." Saphira replied as Eragon tighten his hold on her a little. "Dragons mate for life Eragon and I have chosen you as mine."
Eragon shut his eyes as tears started to form before Saphira brought him in for another kiss and it wasn't long until they were both back on the ground.
-Scene Change-
"You both are late." Arya said with a frown as Eragon climbed into the boat they shared with the Dwarves.
Eragon shrugged. "We lost track of time and fell asleep." he replied as Arya narrowed her eyes. It didn't take a master to know that she was discreetly trying to probe his mind but it was in vain as only Saphira and Eragon had access to "that" part of his memory.
Arya finally relented when she knew that she wouldn't be able to wrestle anything from his mind. "There are many dangers along these shores and you will not always be lucky enough to avoid them Eragon. I would ask that you remain on the boat for the duration of our trip."
Eragon gave her an "Are you serious?" look. "The last I checked Saphira and I answered to no one but ourselves and if we wish to spend a night among the stars by ourselves then that is our right."
Arya gave Eragon a scathing look before she walked away and Orik walked up. "Aye right temperamental those elves. They try and stay on the side of accepting but you can just tell that most of them think of themselves as superior despite their shrinking numbers."
"I've only met her so far so my impression is still mixed but you are right about them being temperamental. She can go from neutral to angry to confident and back to angry in the span of a second." Eragon replied as he watched Saphira splash around in the water.
"Most elves are like that but they will sooner slip a knife into your back as well as be your friend." Orik replied as Eragon shrugged.
"They would have to get past her first." Eragon pointed at Saphira.
"Aye that they would." Orik agreed before he grinned. "So you "fell asleep" eh?" he joked as Eragon sent him a glare that didn't faze Orik.
"I'm starting to regret telling you." Eragon said as Orik shook his head and laughed.
"As your foster brother it is my job to mock you and besides who else would you tell?" Orik said as Eragon relented with a sigh.
"Brom knew but he didn't judge us." Eragon said as he smiled.
-Flashback-
'Saphira are you feeling alright?' Eragon asked through their link as Saphira calmly approached him and it was starting to worry him. The way she was moving and looking at him scared him.
'I am just fine "little one".' Saphira replied in Eragon's mind as she stopped a few feet away from him and looked him over with a piercing gaze.
'Why are you staring at me like that?' Eragon asked fearfully as Saphira finished her examination and gave a weird grin.
'Do you trust me little one?' Saphira asked as Eragon nodded.
'You know I do Saphira, more than anyone else but why are asking?' Eragon asked again as Saphira hummed.
'I will answer you but first you must turn around.' Saphira said as Eragon looked at her curiously.
'What is going on Saphira; what has gotten into you?' Eragon asked worriedly as Saphira shook a little.
'Eragon, if you trust me then turn around and don't turn back until I tell you to. I will explain it all after that I promise.' Saphira replied as Eragon sighed and nodded.
'Alright.' he replied and turned around. A minute later a flash of light illuminated the area and Eragon went wide eyed and turned around, expecting the worst but was stunned when the light faded.
Where Saphira was just standing was a sapphire scaled dragon-like humanoid that stood on two clawed feet. Eragon's mind shut down completely as it tried to process what was in front of him as Saphira opened her eyes to reveal the same sapphire orbs that Eragon knew. What sealed it completely was what happened next.
"Eragon?" Saphira spoke aloud for the first time as Eragon's mind rebooted.
"W-what...h-how...S-Saphira?" Eragon stuttered out as Saphira giggled a little.
"What do you think?" Saphira asked shyly as Eragon still stood stunned. "If you leave your mouth open then bugs will get in it."
Eragon immediately shut his mouth as Saphira walked over to him with a grin on her face. "Saphira...what happened?" Eragon asked as Saphira reached him and put a clawed hand to his face.
"Magic Eragon, magic and a little practice." Saphira replied as Eragon slowly reached a shaking hand to her own face and felt the familiar feel of scales as Saphira pushed against his hand.
"Why Saphira?" Eragon asked hesitantly as Saphira closed her eyes.
"For you Eragon, I wanted to do something special for you but never could until we went to Utgard. I wanted to give something back to you for what I caused in your life." Saphira replied as Eragon felt tears form in his eyes.
"Saphira, I-" Eragon started but Saphira pushed her draconian lips against his in a gentle kiss.
"Please Eragon, just relax and let me help you." Saphira said as she released the kiss.
"Saphira I can't, it isn't right." Eragon said finally as Saphira looked at him.
"Why not Eragon?" Saphira asked worriedly.
"You're a dragon Saphira and I'm not. It wouldn't work because we are different and we aren't meant to cross that." Eragon said as Saphira began to tear up. "Plus I'm nothing but a farm boy with nothing going for me."
That was the wrong thing to say as Eragon found himself on his back after Saphira pushed him down and growled on top of him. "Don't ever say that! You are not just a farm boy, you are my Rider and the partner of my mind and heart! You aren't nothing nor are you worthless, you are worth everything to me!" Saphira said as tears started to fall from her eyes. "I love you Eragon, I always have and I always will and I want you to be my mate as a way of repaying for what you have done and given up for me."
Eragon was silent as he processed all of what he heard. He honestly didn't know to respond to Saphira but seeing her cry tore at his heart and he felt her emotions pouring through their bond. Every emotion she had was laid bare to him and underneath the overwhelming feeling of guilt and hurt was the strong feeling of love she held for him. She didn't just love him as her partner, she loved him as one who she wanted to spend every moment of her life with; as someone who would never leave her side and think of only her whenever they were apart. She didn't want another dragon, she wanted Eragon.
"Please Eragon...let me be your mate." Saphira said as more tears dropped from her eyes and onto Eragon.
"Saphira, you know I would never leave you and I don't hold anything that has happened against you. You are the partner of my mind and heart and you know I love you." Eragon said as Saphira opened her eyes but the tears still fell.
"Do you love me Eragon, do you really and truly love me?" Saphira asked as through her tears.
"Yes Saphira, you know I do." Eragon replied as Saphira choked back a few tears.
"Then please prove it, prove to me that you love me and make me your mate tonight." Saphira said as her claws clenched in the ground. "Prove that you love me more than anything."
'Do you love her Eragon?' Eragon heard Brom say in his mind.
'What?' Eragon asked as he was shocked that Brom heard everything.
'Before you ask, no I am not near you both I am still at the camp but what I have heard I can draw conclusions from. She is asking you if you truly love her enough that you would look past the obvious differences, though she does look a little more human-like now.' Brom said with a curious tone in his thoughts.
'But what about the dragon race? She could never have any children with me.' Eragon protested weakly.
'There are more than enough eggs out there to ensure the race is safe and as for the children, in that form it could be possible...she is speaking through her mouth so it's possible that the magic that gave her a voice also could have given her the necessary requirements to harbor children.' Brom said as Eragon's arguments were unraveled.
'I...' Eragon started but couldn't finish as Saphira began to shake.
'I won't judge you either way but remember, this decision could make you both happier for the rest of your lives or it could break her heart to the point that she would completely lose herself to grief over the fact that she will believe you don't love her. Without her, life isn't worth living Eragon.' Brom said as he withdrew from Eragon's mind.
Eragon said nothing as he raised a hand to Saphira's eye and wiped away her tears. "Are you sure about this Saphira? There is no going back after this." Eragon finally said as Saphira looked at him through her tears.
"Yes Eragon, I am sure. I love you more than any obstacle or barrier that could ever come between us. I want to be the one you look to for love, I want to be the one you think about when you are far away, I want to be the one you sleep next to at night but most importantly I want to be the one who will give birth to your children if it is possible for us." Saphira said as Eragon closed his eyes and a few painful minutes passed as he contemplated his options.
The next thing Saphira felt was a pair of lips on hers and Eragon whispering to her. "I love you Saphira."
-Flashback end-
"Be careful not to let certain people hear anything. You know how they will take it." Orik warned as Eragon could guess who he was talking about.
"I know and we are careful, we had to bathe until I was a prune to get the scent off but it worked." Eragon said as Orik laughed at the thought.
"Ah, love comes in the strangest ways don't it? Aren't you glad you took the plunge?" Orik asked as Eragon looked at Saphira and smiled.
"Yes and I couldn't be any happier even if we killed Galbatorix." Eragon said as he felt Saphira send her own agreement through their bond in the form of a strong feeling of love and a mental image of what awaited him that night that had him turn completely red. "Yep, couldn't be happier."
Phew, that was a long ass one-shot but I am very happy with how it turned out. If people like it then I will write more but for now this one-shot will suffice and I think you all will enjoy it.
If any of you are wondering, the spell gave Saphira an anthro form that allows her to speak like normal and with magic it could be possible to allow her to have children with Eragon in that form as well because with magic anything is possible.
Read and review and let me know what you all think!