Hello, before you get exited, or angry, or whatever really, this is the end. It's been ended for a while, I just decided to finally rid myself of the story, of even the idea of the story, and put it to bed. So this is Chapter 4 in its almost entirety, and then some stuff, ideas, little written segments, a vague outline. That's it.
Chapter 4: This Ain't Getting Finished.
He sought his cousin early, when the sun had only just risen above the horizon, and was surprised when he found the tent unguarded save for the dragon that sat outside. It made sense, he supposed, a dragon would be enough to dissuade most, and those who would not be dissuaded by a dragon stood in their path were likely beyond the realm of simple guardsmen. Or just extremely foolish.
Roran wondered on how to enter for a moment, in front of the flap. Should he walk in, announce himself, wait, in the end the choice was made for him, by Saphira waking and stretching, her eyes glinting with amusement as they found him before a voice spoke to both him and the man he knew to be inside 'Eragon, your cousin is outside, don't make him wait any longer.'
He heard laughter from inside the tent "Spoil my fun will you."
And with that he let himself in.
Eragon sat on the edge of his bed, clad only in breeches, watching Roran. Briefly he wondered how long Eragon had known he was there, how long he would've made him wait. But he cast it aside, he had a request, an important one, and petty annoyances could be ignored in favour of it.
"What do you require, dear cousin?" Eragon prompted the conversation while Roran was finding the words. Funny, he could've sworn he had planned out this conversation, yet now the words escaped him. So he decided on the most simple approach, the direct one.
"I wish for you to marry Katrina and myself."
If the matter had not been so serious to him, he might've laughed, for this was the first time since he met the Dragon Rider his cousin had become, that he had seen him truly shocked, at a loss for words, utterly unprepared for what had just been thrown at him.
Indeed it took Eragon several moments to recover, and even then his response was "Huh?"
"Katrina and I wish to be wed, soon" he tried not to emphasize that too much, yet just enough that maybe Eragon would pick up on it "I wish for you to preside over the ceremony. Katrina feels the same. After what you've done for us… it seems only right you… formalise" he heard the question in his own words, but that was probably right as he was not corrected "...what binds the two of us together."
Eragon chuckled "So, because you owe me, you want me to do you a favour? Is that how it works? Last I checked there was a different approach to such things."
Roran shrugged "Will you do it?"
"Why?"
"Why?"
Eragon rolled his eyes, and a hint of annoyance crept into his tone "Why do you want me to wed you? Why not Horst, or Gertrude? Nasuada would do it, too, the Leader of the Varden, Future Queen of Alagaesia. Orrin would do it as well, at my request. Heck I could convince an Urgal to wed you, wouldn't that be something special? So why me? With all these choices, why do you want me to do it?"
"I…" Roran wondered how best to word it, it was complicated after all, and at the same time so very simple "I want it to be special" he said finally, after a good few moments "For Katrina. I cannot offer her land, or wealth, I can offer her nothing but who I am, and my love. Having a Dragon Rider preside over our wedding would make it something grand, something worth remembering."
"You don't think getting wedded to you, the love of her life, is worth remembering, Roran?"
He didn't answer that, but his face became quite warm "You are family, to me and to Katrina. This isn't something I decided on my own, she agrees. She wishes you to wed us, because you are her brother, as much as you are mine."
"Roran" Eragon began "I... " he sighed and looked away "I'm honoured, truly. But I can't."
Roran frowned "Why?"
"Because… because I'm me."
That made him laughed "And what's that supposed to mean? The only reason you I want you to web us is because you are you, how can you not because you are you?"
"Because of what I've done."
"I've done terrible things too."
Eragon shook his head "Roran, you don't understand. I tried to explain it back at Helgrind, you didn't listen, not properly. I'm not a man made to make life, I'll likely never have children of my own, indeed I have no desire for them."
Roran frowned again, not really sure why this was relevant, but he waited and listened. This was important, that much even he could understand.
"I wouldn't want to wed you, because of what I am and what I've done. My life… my life is a tumultuous whirlwind, a whirlwind of blood and death. Do you want a man like that to preside over your wedding? If you, or Katrina, knew half of what I've done…"
"We'd understand. You do it for the Varden, you do it for…"
"Myself" Eragon cut in, staring his cousin dead in the eye "For my revenge. Because I enjoy it."
Roran swallowed and shook his head, unable to meet those eyes "I don't believe that" no man, no being, could enjoy what had to be done. He knew that, to him that was a firm, stalwart, unmoving truth.
"Believe what you want, but the truth remains the truth. I enjoy killing Roran, I love chaos and death and war. It's my natural element. If I bound you…"
"Nothing would change" Roran staunchly claimed "It would be no different than anyone else. You, and your problems, cannot affect my love for Katrina, Eragon. You would only be doing me an honour, it would have no effect on what followed."
"How the world views the bond between you will change based upon who, as you say, formalises it. My actions may have no effect on you, but they will on others, and thus I will affect the perception of your bond. What I do will affect you."
"And what will you do?"
"I don't know yet" Eragon looked away again, off into some dark corner of the tent, though his eyes seemed to look further still "I have no idea what I'll do. But by the end of this war Roran, I fear you will not look at me the same as you do now. I fear no one will."
Roran shook his head "Nothing will change between us, you'll always be my cousin" he had seen horror, he had seen the monsters of nightmare, he had seen cruelty, he had enacted it as well. No matter what Eragon did, what he had done, what he would do, who he became, Roran would understand. He truly believed that
Eragon smiled, but it was a faint smile, absent of all but a tiny glimmer of hope "I hope so."
"I know so" those words made Eragon's smile widen "If you do not wish to marry myself and Katrina, fine" he pushed on "I will accept and understand, as will Katrina. I just wanted the two people I care about most in the world to have pride of place at my wedding" he smiled at his cousin's next momentary expression of surprise, short as it may be "You will at least be at the ceremony, yes?" Eragon nodded "Then I suppose that will have to do" Roran placed his hand on Eragon's shoulder "If you try to handle all the burdens of the world by yourself, Eragon, you'll be crushed. Let us share the weight."
That made his cousin chuckle "Not by myself" a snort from outside reminded Roran, and he too laughed.
"Fine, be that way" he said, but there was a smile on his face "But do not think I will not try to claim some of that burden away from you."
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'Your cousin is a good man' Saphira noted once he had departed, Eragon lay back on his bed and stared at the roof of the tent 'Before I had thought him rash, impatient, and thoroughly foolish. But I think I now understand. He truly loves her, he was incomplete without her, the complete man is different, fairer, kinder, but the steel that was forged in their parting has not disappeared, he grew stronger due to that, and now he is whole again, strong and whole. Their bond is comparable to ours… only they entered it by choice.'
"So did you" Eragon reminded her "You chose me, knowingly or not. Me on the other hand, I just touched a rock and ended up here."
'And you wouldn't want to be anywhere else.'
He smiled.
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"Your cousin is a strong man" Nasuada told him as he entered her pavillion, his entering coinciding with Roran's leaving.
"Everyone's talking about my cousin today, he make that much of a splash?" Eragon said with a grin.
"You and he are alike in many ways" she noted, paying no mind to his jibes "There's a hardness, a… a cruelty to the both of you, neither of you would flinch away from a hard choice, you would do what needed to be done. Yet he would not relish in it, in that way he is unlike you" she smiled bitterly, but it faded as she stated her next point "And his ability to inspire loyalty is… impressive, commendable perhaps."
Eragon felt a smile twitch onto his face "Does he scare you, Lady Nasuada?"
Her gaze snapped onto his, sharp and angry, before it was quickly contained "Of course not" she told him softly "I am cautious, as any leader should be meeting someone who wields a similar influence, no matter how small their sphere of influence may be. But I do not fear Roran Stronghammer, his ambitions and his weaknesses are borne clear as day."
"I wouldn't advise you to use his weaknesses against him, you'll find a cornered wolf lashes out much harder, and with far less provocation."
Nasuada nodded stiffly "His ambition though, I should feel free to use that to my advantage?"
"So long as you do not lie about your ability to fulfill it, yes, feel free."
Eragon's eyes caught the dark skinned woman's hesitant movements, the slight shake to her arms "You should let me heal you" he told her.
"That would defeat their purpose, and nullify my victory."
He scowled "What idiots make competition out of cutting themselves? Harm your enemies, not yourself."
"Are you calling me a fool Eragon?" she asked quietly, with not much bite.
"Yes."
But that sharpness, that anger, the bite he had seen for just a moment earlier came back full force, and faded away a little slower than the last time "I did not call you here to wax lyrical about my actions" she said coldly "or indeed your cousin."
"Then why did you call me here" Eragon thumbed his belt impatiently, lacking any desire to resolve the tension.
Nasuada folded her hands together, gazing at him over the rows of knuckles "You left without my permission" she said simply, her voice painfully neutral.
Eragon felt his lips twitch "So I did."
She clasped her hands together tighter, he noted, her knuckles whitening "Why?"
"'Why', my lady?" he said, knowing full well why.
"Why did you not ask, why did you simply leave, why did you not even have the courtesy to request to leave?!" and there was that bite again, flashing out from behind her almost flawless mask.
Eragon shrugged "Because I did not need it" he responded truthfully "I left, because with or without permission I would go. I left, because regardless of what you said had asked, I would go. I left because I was going. And nothing would stop me."
She let out a long slow breath, her fingers shaking, just a little, as she pried them apart "I understand" she told him "Truly I do. But you still should've asked permission, Eragon. Luckily the idea that I sent you was propagated easily enough, despite the suddenness of your disappearance."
Eragon nodded, he had things to say, but wouldn't say them. For once he would show restraint and not remind Nasuada that he was not her toy soldier, not a pawn to move around the field, that he could just as easily swing his sword and cut off her pretty little head as he could any one of her numerous enemies.
He wasn't going to say that, but boy was he thinking it.
Nasuada continued "As far as most of the Varden are concerned I sent you, to remove the Ra'zac before they were set loose on my army, and of course to save your cousins betrothed. And…"
Eragon frowned and glanced to one side. Was that…
"I must ask, if not demand, that you DO request to leave next time. I cannot have my Rider running off whenever he pleases. What if I had need of you? What if Murtagh had attacked?" she shook her head and stopped herself, unaware that Eragon's attention was somewhere else entirely.
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"Have you met the Rider?" Laufin asked, drawing Blodhgarms ear. Despite the speed at which they ran, holding a vocalised conversation was not impossible, just required attention. Mental communication would have been better, but few enjoyed it as a means of speaking, especially when actual speaking was available.
"No. My cousin met him… she had little to say as she did not speak with him much."
"I saw him at the Blodhren" Uthinare told the party as the landscape rushed by beneath their feet "My impression was not positive" he remarked candidly "But that was merely through observation, I know little of who the Rider actually is. Merely how he presented himself that night."
There were no comments, none wishing to test the waters and learn of the groups respect, or lack thereof, for the Rider.
Elvish interactions were so… dull.
Blodhgarm liked animals, a lot, he felt there was great beauty in nature, in the natural world and in the way all creatures of land, sky and sea conducted themselves. And elves felt so far removed from nature itself, it was absurd.
Their interactions full of double meanings, of hidden words, of politicking. Nature had no room for politics, leadership was decided by strength, mating was no sacred act of love and devotion but a necessary one, it was bloody and crude, and it was honest and true. Elves weren't honest, and though they always spoke the truth, the words were perhaps the most duplicitous of all the races, and they rarely spoke the whole truth. Just the parts they could get away with.
He was guilty of such things too, of course, such as how he had never raised these issues, merely thought of them. Blodhgarm had no desire to evoke change in elvish society or anything grandiose like that, so he hid the truth, evaded the few times he had ever been questioned about it, and instead devoted himself to his studies of nature.
"We're close" Wyrden said, a fact they all knew "How should we make our approach?" he asked Blodhgarm.
Blodhgarm slowed paced, his compatriots following suit "We should approach more slowly, and as obviously as possible. Make certain they know we are here, and who we are."
There were nods from some.
"The Rider is a human" Uthinare stated, as they continued forwards at a slower pace. The Varden camp in sight now.
"Indeed" Blodhgarm said.
"And yet he bested an elf in single combat? And he has been a Rider for nary a year?" many had heard of Eragon and Vanir's "training", Blodhgarm had no idea what to think of it, even though he knew of it. But the cruelty he had displayed in sparring had not gone unnoticed, nor had his immense skill with a blade.
"Most impressive to be sure" Wyrden said with a light smile.
"I wonder what he's like?" Invidia pondered.
'An angry, tumultuous git.'
Blodhgarm froze.
Not just from a voice speaking inside his own head, he had not barricaded his mind for true, but he had barely noticed the touch of mental contact, in fact until the person spoke he had not noticed.
And then, the moment the words echoed inside his own skull, a weight pressed down on him. On his mind, solely, but he could almost feel it on his body, pushing him down, preventing movement, holding him still and steady, at the mercy of whoever this person was.
He had a decent idea.
'Elves, huh?' there was an odd intonation to that, well intonation wasn't quite right, more like an odd feeling behind the words spoken mentally. It was far harder to hide your thoughts, you could get a grasp of what someone was thinking behind their words in their minds, thoughts, ideas, feelings, they would all just slip out unintentionally.
'Islanzadi did say she dispatched a few to aid us' that mind was far different from the other, less oppressive, glorious in truth, like a gem stone shining in the morning sun. How a mind could appear as a stone, well, it was all up to interpretation wasn't it?
'She did?' that caused even more confused feelings to trickle down, lust, sadness, regret, anger, then the mind focused like a razor and jammed itself back into their skulls 'I'm going to examine your minds' he told them, no request 'Don't worry, I'll keep all your dirty little secrets. It'll be between me and you, pinky promise.'
"If you wish, Shur'tugal" Blodhgarm said stiffly. He was not happy about that, the thought of someone examining his mind was unpleasant, but… but the Rider's paranoia was not unjustified.
There was a murmur of discontent from one of his companions, but Eragon, it seemed, no longer cared.
He dug into Blodhgarm's mind, no mercy, no pity, tearing through everything. His childhood first, it went by in a flash, his education, his studies, the battles he'd fought in, why he fought. It was all examined closely but quickly. And then he was done, far faster than he had expected, if a little more painful than was entirely necessary.
His whole body relaxed as the mind of Eragon pulled back, leaving just a tendril attachment, and he wondered how long he would have to wait for Eragon to finish with the others, assuming he had been the first.
But then he realised, looking back, seeing the pained but relaxing faces, and the groans, that everyone had been done, in one fell swoop.
That… was quite impressive.
'You should probably present yourself to Nasuada, she'd like that, make her feel all important' Eragon laughed harshly in all of their minds 'Hurry on up then, try not to get killed before you get here.'
"We will try our hardest" Blodhgarm muttered, but the connection had been severed, leaving them alone.
"Well" Wyrden smiled through a grimace "Quite the introduction, I suppose."
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"...Orrin has also been pestering me about it" Nasuada told him.
"What?" he arrived back in the here and now… well just the here really, and found himself completely lost in the conversation, that had apparently carried on without any input from him.
Nasuada frowned "The Surdan nobles, several wish to meet with you, so they can feel important" she said, a little firmer than she would've liked.
"Oh… sure. Sorry, distracted."
She said nothing "In that case, I think our business is concluded. Can I trust you to handle the tasks I've requested?"
The look on his face… well, it did not please the Leader of the Varden. He looked like he had no idea what she was on about "Sorry… very distracted. Can you run the entire lot by me again. Like from the beginning."
It was a testament to her self control that her brow furrowing was the only sign of annoyance she let show. But the storm raging in her eyes told Eragon all he needed to know.
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A Bunch of Exerts and Other Stuff Ideas and Such Follow, some are written some are just notes.
Poppy Idea
Poppy "Poppet" a Shade created by Galbatorix. He was going to use Murtagh, but ultimately didn't want to risk his only Rider, so used one of his bastard children instead.
Poppy doesn't like Galbatorix too much, though admits he is wise and knows much, and his strength terrifies her immensely.
"You think elves are anything different from us? They're just humans with bits of dragon fucked in!"
"Oh?"
"What, did you think they were something mysterious and ancient, no the Black King knows, elves are just men, and that's all they ever were, but the dragons blessed them first, does that make them better than us, does it?!"
Eragon chuckled "Galbatorix knows, hmm?"
15 years old, beautiful, red hair and red eyes, a cruel smile, a pale face.
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Eragon and Horst
"Eragon."
A mug in his hand, the Rider sat, leaning against his dragon, staring up at the stars. This far from camp, and the light and noise it brought, it was quiet, and the stars gleamed brilliantly in the inky sky. It was a pleasant place, peaceful and serene.
The Rider turned to his to look at him, and Horst flinched as he caught that gaze, it was as Roran described it, horrible. What kind of malign magic had given young Eragon such foul eyes? Had it been by choice? Did the benefit outweigh the cost? Was it a part of being a Rider? Many questions occurred to him, he dared ask none of them.
"Need something?" Eragon said hoarsely, coughing as he realised how rough his throat was and taking another sip from his mug before stating it again "Need something?" only this time he sounded less dead and far more… well, human.
Horst shrugged "Not really" he said calmly, standing a respectful distance from the Rider, and engaging in the same pastime, staring into the starry sky "Are you avoiding us Eragon?" the words came after much deliberation, thought, and a fair bit of talking himself into asking the question. The Rider had fled when he and the others approached, leaving Roran with them but otherwise ignoring them, and they had not pursued.
And Horst wanted to know why. Had they offended Eragon in some way? Was he too good for them? Or was he trying to protect them, keep them at arm's length to prevent others from using them against him, and getting them hurt in the process? Roran didn't know, and the only person Horst felt he could ask was the man himself.
So here he was.
"I…" Eragon started, paused, fiddled with the hem of his shirt, sipped his drink, and still had no more words to speak. It took the Rider a long time to find the words Horst noted, and when he finally did they were simple words, word, in fact "Yes."
"I see" Horst replied, trying not to sound too disapproving "May I inquire as to why?"
Eragon laughed "You don't have to talk like that with me Horst, I'm not some lord who'll get offended being spoken to like a commoner" his smile twisted and fell off his face, as Eragon considered the question "I… I'm not who I was before, Horst."
"Neither are we" he pointed out.
Again the Rider laughed "Look me in the eye Horst" Horst didn't "I've changed, far more than you, far more than the village. You've been through a lot, I'm not about to imply that my journey was greater or more harsh than yours, but it affected me more. The…" he paused again, and placed his mug down, moving to standing at Horst's side and stare into the sky side by side "The Eragon you knew is dead. Hell, the Eragon you knew was the reborn version of the Eragon you knew and now they're both dead."
Horst frowned "What are you…"
"When I got Saphira" he waved in the direction of his dragon, of course Horst knew her name, Roran had spoken of her at length and there were few in the camp at large who did not know of Rider Eragon and his Dragon Saphira "I was no longer the Eragon you knew, me and her, we… we became more than the pair of us. We became a part of each other, each greater than the sum of the both of us. That Eragon replaced the one you knew, the previous Eragon. But that Eragon died too, in Gilead, I… I was confronted with an ugly truth about myself, I became who I am today, I died and was born anew" the Rider laughed yet again, but this time longer and harder "Or maybe I'm making it sound too grand" with another chortle he said something simpler "The Eragon you knew got mixed with her" he tapped his dragon "and then that Eragon got all muddled up."
There was silence, Horst waited for him to continue, until it was clear that he wasn't about too.
"So?" he asked "You think that matters to us? You're still Eragon, our Eragon. That won't change. Not if you become a Dragon Rider, hell you could go become an Urgal-Dwarf hybrid and we wouldn't care. Shade's Blood you could be a Shade and I wouldn't give a damn. You're still Eragon" he dared a little more, and placed a hand on Eragon's shoulder "That won't ever change boy, ever."
He was pulled into a hug, before he could blink, and almost crushed as Eragon laughed into his ear "Oh, Horst. You wise old bastard. Hit the nail on the head don't you."
The old smith was confused, but hugged back "Aye, that's me" he said, laughing though he wasn't sure why.
Eragon pulled back, patting him on the shoulder, Horst realised why after a moment, the dragon was looking at him, and moved her snout closer, taking a sniff 'I must thank you for caring for my Rider' he flinched at the noiseless, bodiless, directionless voice, but it wasn't difficult to figure out where it came from. He held back all the questions he wanted to ask. Dragons could talk? Was it just this dragon? Was Eragon unique? Was Saphira unique? Or did all Dragon's belonging to Rider's talk? Heck did all dragons talk?
Instead of asking any question, he bowed "You honour me, o dragon."
'My name is Saphira' he was told, quite gently too, that he would know he had not offended.
"Of course, Lady Saphira."
A thrum ran down her spine as he said that, and he felt satisfaction emanating from her. She liked being titled Lady Saphira, it seemed.
Eragon scoffed "Pompous bitch."
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Eragon at the Stabbing of Varaug by Arya.
"No, I survived, you can too" the human eyes looking back at him, only momentary, before they faded away, and nothing was left.
The stab, under his arm, straight into the heart, felt like it pierced him too, and for a moment, brief and beautiful, he considered turning and letting loose all of his rage, his hate and anger and torturous burning suffering out on the one who had stabbed.
He didn't.
He was better than that.
The spirits emerged, as they had done with Durza, and swarmed him, seeking what? Convergence, some sort of kinship, hope, who the hell knew. He pushed them away, far harsher than needed to be done, and felt more than saw them dart away, feeling their presence whimper as it scurried from him.
He was alone again… as he always was.
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Eragon and Elva After Elfs Death.
"You knew" Elva didn't hold back a smirk, but struggled to smother a tremble, as Eragon, sat staring at the campfire flames, called out to her "You knew and you did nothing" there was no accusation in his voice, it was emptier than usual, a little more hollow, but she felt no blame.
"Why should I?" Elva hated her own voice, raspy but childlike, like an old woman merged with a child.
"Why should you" a repetition of her statement, an acknowledgement of her being right? Or just him saying it, mocking it, analysing it even. It didn't feel like it was any of them "So, you feel no need to shield others now that it no longer harms you. Without force, you will not aid?"
"What benefit does that bring to me?" that tiny tremble in the first word, it made her want to bite her own tongue off. But not right now, not in front of him.
He nodded, rather than repeat her statement "A life of pain, of experiencing pain, without choice or will. Empathy gone, or blunted? Or was it nipped before it had a chance to grow?"
"And what of you, Rider? Where is your empathy for the ants you slaughter like lambs?"
That caught his attention and he finally looked at her. Elva sincerely wished he didn't, wished she hadn't said anything, wished she was anywhere else in the world, any place and any time, before her affliction was resolved even, just not here. But she refused to look away, refused to cower in front of him.
"A fair point" he stood, and strolled towards her, even though his gait was calm, even though he seemed perfectly fine, even though her senses told her nothing bad would come, her body still tensed, like a coiled snake, about to strike… or be struck. He gently, gingerly, shifted some hair from her face "I don't know" he confessed, his finger resting on her cheek, but his eyes turned skyward "I don't know where I lost it, but somewhere it seems to have been misplaced" he brought his eyes back down, smoldering though not violently, like warm embers, they still felt like they would burn her alive "I hope you find it one day Elva… not caring is… it's a sorry state to be in."
He walked away, leaving her alone.
Did he know, did he realise? Had he always known, was she just being played for a fool? Her fingers curled into fists, her nails biting the skin of her palm.
She had never stopped caring.
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Eragon and Murtagh Post Galbatorix Death
"There are less dramatic ways" Murtagh commented as his once brother in arms, brother in half of his blood, and fellow Rider landed in the same clearing he had been resting in for some time now. He glanced up at the sky, where storm clouds had gathered like a wall, right in his path "I was going to stop. Don't need you pursuing me" he stood up, as Eragon dismounted, his body tensing, ready for a fight "We may as well finish this."
Eragon seemed to consider him for a long time, Murtagh stopped paying attention after a moment. He didn't need to stare into those eyes as he awaited potential doom. And who knows, maybe he could win. There was always a chance.
"The Eldunari" Eragon held out a hand, open palmed.
Murtagh nodded, and with a word, produced them, they were caught before they fully materialised by Eragon's magic and slowly travelled over to him, each examined in turn and then gone, as if it were never there. For a brief moment, as their presence was wrapped up inside Eragon's own, Murtagh felt the crushing weight of the immense horde, the despair and hate that poured forth from all the Eldunari that Galbatorix had enslaved over the years, and now Eragon carried them with him, and contained their misery within himself, his own presence wrapping around them and keeping them from all others.
By the end Murtagh couldn't even tell that they had been there.
"There's one left."
Murtagh frowned, he'd handed them all over, but Eragon's expression implied he hadn't. It took him but a moment to realise "No."
Those eyes refused the answer.
"Thorn's is mine, I won't hand it over. I won't be a slave to anyone else, and I won't let him be one either."
Eragon shook his head, slowly, deliberately "Don't make me take it, Murtagh" he warned, voice low.
"I'm not. Don't make me fight for the right to keep my dragon free" Murtagh spat back.
Of all the reasons for confrontation he hadn't thought this would be it. Thought Eragon would understand why he wouldn't give it up.
He reached for his sword first, drawing the wine red blade in a flash.
Eragon didn't, he just stood there, hand outstretched as it was before, a silent demand.
'Don't I get a say in this?'
Thorn's voice actually shocked him, speaking on an open channel, if you would, both Eragon and Murtagh, and Saphira, keyed into his speech.
"Thorn" Murtagh warned. He wasn't sure what his dragon's plan was but, Eragon was volatile, and Saphira, shamed as Thorn might be to acknowledge it, was his better. Their best bet was to run and get far away enough that pursuing them was more hassle than it was worth. If only he'd started on that sooner, unfortunately there was a wall of storm blocking his way.
Maybe running wouldn't work.
Thorn moved past Murtagh, to look Eragon in the eye. It said something that even he, a dragon, flinched at the sight of those crimson eyes.
'Murtagh talked a lot about you' he balked, and tried to distance himself from the conversation, though would not cut himself out. But listening to his dragon embarrass him had not been on his list of plans for the day 'Not always good, he complained a lot. But I never got the sense that he hated you. Well, not most of the time. He was envious, but… you were important to him. Why?'
Eragon reached out a hand, and for a second Murtagh was terribly afraid, he could feel himself about to swing the sword. He held it all back, and no one noticed his sudden panic, his fear, and Eragon's hand came to rest upon Thorn's snout.
Something transpired between them, it was hard to tell what. Words Murtagh could parse but this was more, intent and feelings and thought and idea, all dazzling and, from the distance he had been keeping, utterly unintelligible.
But not to Thorn, whose tail had gone very still.
Murtagh could feel his partner's mind, no manipulation or force, nothing out of the ordinary, he was mulling over things Murtagh was not yet allowed to see, perhaps stuff he never would be allowed access to, but nothing malignant.
'Give him the Eldunari' finally, after what felt like a age, Thorn told him what he didn't want to hear. Before he could protest Thorn had already countered him 'If we don't he won't let us go. If we wanted us under his control he could do that right now and we would put up little resistance. And… I trust him, I trust his intent. He will not abuse this trust.'
Murtagh still wasn't happy, but… but it was Thorn's. His heart was his own, Thorn's was his, and if he chose to give some crystal lump that was integral to his being away then… well Murtagh didn't have to be happy about it.
He handed it over, a small barely a hand sized gem, his own hand shaking as the transaction took place.
After examining it, Eragon nodded "Thank you" his next words came fluently in a language Murtagh was subpar in at best but he could parse the general "I will not betray this trust you have shown me."
It wasn't all he wanted, he wanted specifics and details and… and he wanted the Eldunari back, but it would do. It was all he would get, and it was, notably, far more than most would get.
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Rabbits on the Moon
"Things die on the moon" Eragon said suddenly and without prompting.
'Oh, do they?'
"Yep... "
Saphira sighed 'What did you do? It better not have been someone Nasuada would notice.'
"It was a rabbit, I sent it with the thing, you know, the thing."
'Ah yes, the thing, for certain.'
"Yeah, to the moon, and I saw… and then it died. Like instantly. Just poof gone… Guess there'll be no villa on the moon huh?"
'Oh no, whatever will I do.'
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Eragon Post Banishment Nasuada
The door slammed shut behind him, almost smacking him on his way out. Eragon smiled grimly. That could've gone better.
"I hope you didn't annoy her too much" Elva, in Eragon's mind she was still that ten or so year old girl with the overly long hair, so it surprised him every time he saw the adolescent youth, maybe sixteen, eighteen, pressing adulthood. Her hair no longer overly long but beautifully so, smooth and straight, her eyes piercing, her smile sharp. She was a force and she knew it. And… Eragon could only see a child.
He shrugged.
"So that's that. You anger my love and then you leave?" Elva leaned against a wall, her smile not moving an inch.
Her love, Nasuada. Was it love? Eragon didn't know, he hadn't inquired. It wasn't a relationship he was comfortable with. Wasn't one he personally wanted to condone. But also wasn't one he felt he could interfere with. How she knew he was leaving? Well, it had been rumoured for a time, that he was no longer welcomed by the court, the council, the elves, the dwarves, and now humans had all seen fit to unwelcome him.
"I suppose" he said rather flatly, fingering a stone in his pocket. Elva… was she…
"Well…" Elva's smile deepened just a little "Off you trot then. No use standing here" she waved him off.
Eragon's decision made for him. He nodded and left. Not giving her a second thought or glance.
He didn't see her carefully maintained nails jam into the skin of her palm, her bite her perfectly painted lip, or bundle up the cloth of her skirt in a fist.
Didn't see the child, who wanted nothing more than to beg him to stay.
He saw nothing, his mind was elsewhere, and she said nothing, her pride refusing to allow it. And so, they parted ways, and, like as not, their ways would never cross again.
"So, you've managed to piss of everyone" Angela was clearly loving this, smiling wryly at him from across her cauldron. Solembum had gone, years ago, though he had left a trail that 'One in the know' could follow. That probably meant only Angela had the patience for it "And now you're going to have to run across the great sea, and find your own fortune. Ha, mad."
"Am I?"
"No! You're sane as a harpy. They're mad. Casting you aside when you would've left of your own accord in time. Earning ire when they could've kept goodwill. Burning bridges that like as not would never be used again, but burning it just for the sake of it. When Alagaesia comes under threat, will Eragon, Dragon Rider come to its rescue? No, I think not."
"There are others for that" Eragon assured her "Two other Riders, and plenty of other people."
"There are at that, and yet none have you charm or wit my lad" she folded her hands "So? Why did you come to see me of all people? I'd imagine there are a hundred others more worthy of your time, my lord" the mockery dripped from her voice, a pleasantry compared to the waffling insincerity of nobles.
"You're my favourite Angela, didn't you know."
"Bah! That's a good one. We all know the elf lass if your favourite Eragon, and you shant be fooling ANYONE. In fact, I doubt I'm even on your top five."
"I mean…" she hadn't been, but "Burnt bridges as you say. You make the cut."
"Because everyone else has cut" she made a slicing motion and noise "Haha, well aren't I honoured."
He tossed her a gem, tear shaped, blood red, swirling like it contained a liquid.
She poked at it "And this is?"
"A sign of my trust, of you being one of my top five. A way to call me, if you need me. The only way I'm leaving."
Angela eyed the gem, and then him "A rare treasure indeed. Now I'm less certain I want it."
"Then dump it, ones on the moon, one in a ditch won't hurt. Or keep it, and one day seek me out, and we'll share tall tales and I'll finally get to see the you under all of that" he gestured vaguely "Not the clothes. The… you know what I mean."
She barked another laugh.
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Shade End
Eragon keeps Thorns Eldunari, much to Murtaghs anger, but Thorn himself agrees stating it's his and he decides who keeps it.
Eragon reunites Alagaesia, Teirm surrenders, Nasuada marries Orrin and Surda is incorporated into the Empire, the elves and dwarves and werecats and urgals and dragons (as he hatches all the dragons eggs found in the vault of souls into wild dragons) and humans all have a 'council of kings' held in Uru'baen. Eragon represents Dragons for a while while training two elves to take his place as they helped him raise the dragons (those two who like the Eldunari). He also merges Dragons' with their eldunari so no more deus ex geminas.
Nasuada and Elva (who is now physically 16 or older) have a relationship, Eragon doesn't know if there's love (on either side) or if it's just physical, nor does he care.
Trianna becomes a Shade(as she begins to suspect he is on earlier in the story Eldest even?) and finds and kisses Eragon, he sighs and kills her, and shoves the spirits (who try to become one with him) away, stating "I don't want any more of you".
Eragon makes his own Eldunari using spirits, gives one to Orik, one to Arya, one to Roran, one to Murtagh (he teleports it to him while he's in a snowy tundra), and finally one (he initially intended on giving to Nasuada) to Angela.
Eragon is banished from the dwarven clan for letting Murtagh escape justice, Orik doesn't agree though he doesn't and won't forgive Murtagh he understands Eragon's actions, as do the rest of Durgrimst Ingeitum, who have a 'banishing ceremony' that's essentially a party for Eragon. At the end of it Eragon gives Orik the gem, and Orik stares at him, realising what it is. Saphira retains the dwarves respect for healing the Star Sapphire, the clans claim "That was Saphira's act, not Eragon's" when it is brought up regarding his banishment.
Council of King's discussion, the elect dragon's first appearance there with his elven advisers and Eragon. The dwarves piss him of for insulting Eragon and they aren't happy with the dragons either for eating their livestock. SOme issues occur and a shouting match commences, Saphira stops it by roaring and breaking down the door, telling them all to shut up.
Eragon is banished by the elves for his actions against the Meona Tree, but also because of his repeated aggravation of them, Vanir informs him of this and so Eragon goes to Ellesmera to collect what he left there. The elves removed his art and weapons, Vanir locates his weapons and eventually Arya arrives, informing Eragon that he is not the only Rider there. They talk a while, at first peaceably but Arya does not agree with Eragon's decision to get rid of the Rider's and speaks of her plans to bring them back. Eragon gets angry with her, Firnen tries to scare Eragon off but Saphira pins him down. Eragon gives up, realising that "A stupid little elf won't listen, not when she thinks she knows all there is to know" and tell Saphira to burn the treehouse down, stating that as he is the eldest of the three, he is the leader, so he makes the decisions. The elves are unhappy and ones tries to attack him, but Saphira defends him getting wounded, Eragon heals her, kills the elf responsible, and leaves.
Eragon is banished by Nasuada for refusing her request to give the name of the ancient language to her chosen magician and for some choice insults.
He gives Angela the gem and tells her to find him someday, as he'd like to hear her story.
He then goes to Roran and gives Roran his gem, greeting his nephew and niece and telling them that he was the one who burned his Illyria estate down, Katrina wonders if it was because he was drunk.
Ending takes roughly three or four years, not a couple of months.
Eragon leaves Alagaesia after gathering up his stuff as well as all his belonging from Ellesmera, as he is leaving Arya finds him and they race for a while on dragons before landing. Eragon and Arya reconcile after their earlier interaction and Eragon gives her his gem, after she refuses the place at his side, she promises "I will find you" and he just smiles.
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Post End Ideas
Eragon and Saphira go to a land where the Raz'ac still live and finds a town in perpetual fear of them. He leaves the Raz'ac after speaking to them, deciding that he doesn't want to make the world more boring.
He encounters a seemingly sane Shade running an city, the man is a psychopath, and thus the spirits are unaffected by the maddening emotions in men, as he doesn't really feel them. So he's mostly sane and simply desires to be powerful, to feel powerful, as that is 'pleasant'. Eragon leaves him.
Eragon encounters a king who uses his subjects as fuel for spells, they are all enslaved using the ancient language. He kills the king and thus the entire kingdom as it is bound to him.
Eragon meets a man who wields a spear specifically for killing Shades. The man has a son and guards a village. Eragon kills him, and tell the terrified villagers "I wouldn't have harmed him, if he had just let me go on in peace."
So... that's that I guess. It's been... wild. Like holy shit this was started a decade ago, I... don't even know who I was back then. I wish I was an entirely different person, but sadly still seems to be me. Sucks.
Anyway, the end. Sorry about that. This is more for me than for you to be honest, closure you know, hopefully it gives some of you that as well.
Byeee.