Be aware, I decided to split the first chapter up into 2 sections due to how long it seemed compared to the other chapters. So please be aware of how the second chapter is shorter than the first one. Please enjoy and I hope you understand my reasoning.
Chapter 1
Urû'baen, despite the black city's reputation, commanded respect with its imposing walls and tall castles. It is the capital of the human territories in Alagaësia and in history was once known as the elves' long abandoned home, Ilirea. Its most intimidating building in the city, besides the Black Citadel, was the large palace in which Galbatorix and his dragon, Shruikan, resided. Sauntering down the long hallways, through the gold and silver engraved stone columns bordering each side, a tall armored man made his way to the throne room. Dark grey armor covered his body encasing him completely in a steel alloy, a helm of iron obscured his face, two sharp horns intricately sculpted out of metal twisted outwards on each side; a helm that had not been removed in public for over four years. A black cape flowed behind him tied around his broad shoulders, a red sigil sewn into it representing the Empire.
The figure turned, standing before two colossal marble black doors. He turned to one of the guards at the door; speaking to the soldier in his deep voice coming out deeper as it was muffled by his helm he said, "His majesty is expecting me."
The guard was intimidated as he stammered "Y-Yes, my lord!" before saluting him and pushing the doors open. The throne room was grand, the floor made of white marble and covered by a red carpet leading up to the golden throne. There upon that seat sat the most powerful man in Alagaësia, garbed in a luxurious cloak reinforced with enchanted armor and a gleaming white sword laid before his lap was none other than King Galbatorix. Despite having ruled Alagaësia for nigh on a century, he retained his youthful appearance, no doubt with magic, as his face held no wrinkles. His hair was as light as silver and a neatly trimmed beard to match. His black eyes fell upon his servant, an evil smirk growing on his lips.
When the figure came to stop before Galbatorix, he knelt on one knee, bringing his hand up against his chest. "Your highness" he spoke with indifference.
Galbatorix's cold smile widened as he leaned forward to observe his loyal subject. Then he spoke, with a voice rich and deep, unbefitting of his age. "You must be wondering why I've brought you here, Eridar."
The armored man nodded.
"You've heard of the capture of an elf by Durza, have you not?"
"I have."
"Good, we shall make this meeting brief then" Galbatorix spoke with approval. "Durza, to my dissatisfaction, has been unsuccessful in his endeavors to retrieve any information from her. I am most displeased with his progress or lack thereof. I wish for the interrogation to be called off and for Durza to move on to more fruitful ventures. As for the elf, I consider her useless. With the egg gone, there is no other choice for me but to send the Urgals to scour the Beor Mountains—a situation I consider most... distasteful." He sighed. "As a reward for your unswerving loyalty, I would like to give the elf to you as a gift, Eridar. Do with her what you will and while you're at Gil'ead, express to Durza how very disappointed I am."
"Thank you, your highness. I shall see to it that your request be fulfilled immediately" His bowed head tilted upward to look at the king from behind his helm. "What exactly should I tell Durza?"
A cold chuckle escaped his lips. "Whatever comes to your mind."
"May I ask another question, your highness?"
"You may."
"Will I be appointed to lead the Urgals? Or shall Durza do it?"
"I'll have Durza handle it. But if anything goes… awry, you shall take his place as commander of that army". After another few seconds passed, Galbatorix finally spoke, "Now, I grow weary of this conversation. Eridar, you are dismissed." With a wave of Galbatorix's hand. The tall figure known as Eridar nodded before standing. He bowed one last time to the King before turning to make his leave, his metal boots making muffled clanking sounds upon the carpet padded floor loudly as he did so.
"An elf," a deep voice echoed in his head, curiosity flooding his mind. "How did Durza ambush them, I wonder."
"He bided his time and struck when the moment was right. A strategy that never fails." a female voice replied in his mind as he left the halls of the large palace. Walking into the courtyard, a group of maids who were passing by curtsied to him before quickly making their way out of the courtyard. Eridar made his way towards the stables which shimmered with the reflection of brilliantly blue scales. The blue hues began to move and a long muscled neck stretched forth, an intelligent pair of blue eyes later peered at him. A puff of black smoke erupted from the dragon's nostrils ruffling Eridar's hair, as she snorted at the sight of him.
"Took you long enough" Saphira commented, with a tinge of impatience coating her tone. He shrugged indifferently before replying "The King likes to take his time". He climbed onto her saddle with deceptive grace despite the dragon's incredible height. To Gil'ead, I presume?
"Why ask if you already know?"
"It's always nice to ask," she answered innocently. And with a powerful stroke of her wings and the push of her hind legs, she took off into the air. The wind blew past his helm as she climbed higher and higher into the sky. "Are you curious as to what you might find with this elf?"
"I don't know yet. But there are some things I hope to ask her for myself." Traveling on dragonback, Gil'ead was reachable within a day, and with the free time available to him Eridar's thoughts kept on wandering back to why Galbatorix would hand over someone as valuable as the elf to him. If Durza had only kept up the interrogation then he might have been able to successfully extract some information of the Varden's whereabouts, the elves' home, or the location of the missing red egg. He inwardly scoffed at the Shade's incompetence "For someone as sadistic and powerful as Durza I find it humorous that he is being upstaged by a single elf."
As the flight wore on Saphira started another line of thought with her rider.
"There are some rumors going around that another dragon rider has emerged."
"The possibility is great that the egg has already hatched for someone."
"Could it be one of the Varden's people, or do you think it hatched for the elves?"
"I don't know." They talked for a while on the possibilities of whether the dragon harbored a human or an elf as a rider. "Perhaps the egg has hatched for a dwarf." They laughed when they realized the absurdity of such an event knowing of its impossibility. But eventually Saphira fell into her old games of strange riddles to which Eridar was always at a loss for an answer to.
They kept up their little mind games, until eventually the stronghold of Gil'ead came into his view on the broad horizon and without further ado Saphira dove towards the keep, causing the soldiers to scramble out of the way to make room for her landing. "All this flying has made me hunger. Go see the elf. I need to hunt."
"You'll come back safely?" he asked. Saphira snorted at his question "Of course I will be safe, who would dare to attack the queen of the skies Eragon?" Eridar flinched at her use of his real name. She then spread her wings and took to the skies yet again. In a less than better mood than before Eridar turned and tersely nodded towards the soldiers who hurriedly bowed to him. Walking down the stairs of the keep, towards the prison, he began to brood about the discussion a moment ago "Nobody calls me that name, I lost the privilege to be called that after I made my decision." He neared the guard who stood vigilant outside the hall of the cells. The man bowed to him, "My lord."
Acknowledging the guard with a respectful nod, he spoke, "I'm here for the elf, where is she?" The guard frowned, confusion evident in his face, fidgeting uneasily where he stood he replied,
"Durza is interrogating her. He gave me strict orders for no one to interfere."
Sighing in exasperation he repeated with impatience bordering on anger "Where is she?"
The guard stammered before answering in a timid voice, "T-The dungeon." Eridar nodded before moving past him. Turning his way down the hallway and into a dark staircase he descended into the dungeons steeling himself before the grim vistas to come, the sounds of whips cracking and incoherent moans of pain annoyed him. He detested these methods as he thought of it barbaric and ineffective "No wonder why Durza has failed to gain an ounce of information from the elf. She probably can't even speak from the pain she's enduring" Eridar always preferred the kinder approach of interrogation, slowly coaxing out secrets with kindness was more efficient and less… messy. Expecting to hear cries of pain at the destination he arrived at, he was surprised that the room remained rather silent except for the lashes of whips. Two soldiers stood guard in front of the iron wrought door, they hurriedly bowed at his appearance.
"Lord Eridar!" One exclaimed in surprise.
"What brings you to these horrid places?" the other asked.
"I'm here for the elf." He moved forward to open the door, but the guard grabbed his arm, before realizing what he had done and dropping it again hurriedly, fearing for the response he would receive.
"Durza said that no one was allowed to enter unless it was the King himself." the other guard sprang in to cover for his comrade's mistake.
"The King has given me orders to be here. I am sure that overrides whatever orders he has put into place." Without waiting for their response, Eridar pushed through the guards and barged his way into the torture chamber. It was similar to any other dungeon; damp and dark, with a few torches on the wall to provide minimal lighting. Torture devices were hung on the stone walls and some tables were scattered around, contraptions and potions were strewn upon them. To the front of the room was a flogging pole and tied to it was an elf. But then something happened that he wasn't expecting.
As his eyes fell upon the elf, a strange passion awoke in him like a dying fire rejuvenated with fresh coal. She was beautiful. Her long black hair framing her angular face, marred only by a scar running from her jaw to her chin. Her eyes were slanted like a cat's, the green orbs dimmed with pain. Her ears tapered to points at their tips. Both her hands were tied above her head, and she was shirtless. At the sight of her situation, his eyes flashed dangerously; a sudden rage he hadn't felt in a long time came upon him. With immense restraint from cutting down her captor, he closed the door, bolting it shut. Standing in front of the injured elf was the loathsome shade, his hair crimson bright and his maroon eyes filled with sadistic glee at the prospect of torturing her further.
Holding back his desire to stab the creature he spoke up "Durza, that is enough you have been relieved of your objective to… interrogate the elf." The shade turned to him, his look of pleasure replaced with surprise and distaste "And who gave you the authority?" Durza growled, turning his attention away from the elf. Eridar laughed mockingly.
"Authority? I outrank you by several titles, Durza. So even if without the King's permission I could still have my way" walking forward with menace, his cape billowing softly behind him. "And if you have to ask, yes, the King ordered me here. He wishes me to relay to you his immense disappointment with your inability to gain a shred of information from a single lowly elf." His harsh word about the elf irked him slightly but he continued on nevertheless.
He let out a frustrated shout, before raising his hand with the whip once more to get a desperate last lash at the elf. However, before he could strike her, with inhuman speed Eridar's hand flew up to grip him in an iron clutch, preventing any movement. "That is enough Durza! If you continue with your insubordination I will have no choice but to report your insolence to the King. So if you wish to remain unscathed by His Majestie's wrath, I suggest you stop taking the frustrations of your failures out on this elf." He threw Durza's arm away, "Besides, he has entrusted her fate to me."
"You?" Durza hissed with venom in his voice. Eridar nodded.
"The elf is now under my jurisdiction, and as such, you are forbidden to touch her." letting out a twisted shriek, the shade threw down the whip and stormed out of the room. He smiled wryly, before turning his attention to the injured elf. A sudden sense of protectiveness rose up in him and went about to untie her, making sure to avoid looking at her bare and scarred torso. As she slumped to the ground in exhaustion free from her bonds, Eridar spotted a black tunic lying on one of the tables and grabbed it. He offered her the garment, ignoring her ice cold glare. Smirking a bit he spoke "I expected a more grateful attitude for my intervention. Perhaps a small "thank you: could suffice?" She remained huddled under the flogging post maintaining her glare albeit with a newfound expression of confusion. "Well? Are you going to put this on, or do you need me to?"
With a quick swoop of her arm, she grabbed the tunic from his hands before donning it, when she was done, he turned to look at her again. Then before Eridar realized his actions he lowered himself to her to pick her up in his arms. Before she could respond he quickly shushed her "Stay still—you are in no condition to walk, elf."
A look of complete surprise gripped the elf's face before returning to her impassive cold stare this time studying Eridar with a renewed interest. As they exited the dungeon, Eridar nodded to the two bewildered guards. Instead of bringing her back to her designated cell, he brought her to his room that he was given whenever he visited Gil'ead. Placing her on his large bed and ignoring her startled stare, he began to strip her of her tunic. He grunted suddenly when she quickly planted her foot into Eridar's abdomen. "It won't do you any good if you try to attack me. You'll only injure yourself even further." He replied with sincerity in the ancient language while he shrugged off the pain. She stopped resisting, her curious look returning to her eyes before nodding with reluctance.
Flipping her onto her stomach, he took in the extent of the damage the shade had wrought upon her, his rage returning to him once again "When I meet Durza again I might just give him a taste of his own medicine" he thought. Despite the scars, the elf's back was strong and muscled only marred by the scabs that made her skin look like dry, cracked mud. She had been whipped mercilessly and branded with hot irons, seemingly in the shape of claws. Where her skin was still intact, it was purple and black from numerous beatings. On her left shoulder was a tattoo inscribed with indigo ink. Placing his hand on her wounds, he channeled his energy into his palms, murmuring the healing spell. "Waíse heill."
The burns, bruises, and lashes shimmered under his palm, and then new unmarked skin flowed over it, mending the ripped skin together in its place. He saved the internal injuries for last. When he was finally done, he threw her tunic at her.
"Here."
Turning his back, he heard the rustle of clothing before all was silent. He faced the elf once again, ignoring the curious stare in her bright green eyes. Grabbing her chin, he pulled her close to him until he could feel her breath on his helm. The scar on her face wasn't fresh. Healing it, he let go of her, watching as she rubbed the spot where he had grabbed her. "I'm hoping that those were the only injuries Durza gave you, elf."
"Why are you doing this?" she asked, her rich voice accented and exotic.
He looked down and wrly chuckled. "Why indeed?" Turning from her, he went to throw the windows wide open, letting fresh air into the room. "But you didn't answer my questions, elf. Was that the only thing Durza did to you?"
Her lips pursed to form a hard line, and refused to answer his question. A few seconds later he sighed, calling for a maid. Instantly, a young girl walked in, curtsying as she saw him. "My lord, you called?"
"Yes, bring me the healer. Tell him to hurry, for I do not have the time to wait around forever." She nodded, curtsying one last time before leaving. When she was gone, he turned back to the elf. "If you don't want to die, I suggest you cooperate willingly."
"You give me no reason to trust you." She replied. He snorted.
"I also gave you no reason to distrust me. Just because I bear the crest of the Empire does not mean that I enjoy their lot," said Eridar. "By the way, what is your name?"
She remained impassive, withholding her reply, he continued as if she did. "Well then, I guess I will just have to call you elf then. You can call me, Eragon." Before he could stop it, the name left his lips, shocking both himself and her. However, before he could correct his mistake, the door opened and in walked the healer and the maid.
The maid curtsied once again and asked, "Is there anything else you need, my lord?"
"Yes, bring some food up, but no meat," he ordered, still recovering from his shock. She nodded and left, while the healer stepped forward.
"You called for me, Lord Eridar?" He nodded and pointed to the elf.
"Do you know of the injuries that Durza had given her?"
"I do. Every morning I would bring Durza a vial of Tunivor's Nectar to stop the Skilna Bragh's progress within her blood stream." He nodded, ordering the healer to bring her the antidote. He watched as the man hurriedly left the room to retrieve the medicine.
"Why are you helping me?" the elf repeated, staring at him as if trying to decipher an ancient piece of text she could not understand. A sigh escaped his lips.
"Is it so wrong of me for wanting to help you? I've told you before I may work for Galbatorix, but that does not mean I revel in my service to him." He frowned and looked away. "You'll be grateful when you have enough energy to escape Gil'ead. It is a boring place compared to your lush green forest, no?"
She didn't answer, instead continuing to stare at him. "You want me to escape?" she said slowly, as if to make certain that he had truly said those words himself.
"Who said I wanted you to? But if you did, I would not try to stop you."
"You are a strange person."
"My, my, my, now we're starting to have a proper conversation here, aren't we?" They were interrupted by the opening of the door again as the healer walked in with a glass bottle in his hands containing the golden liquid. Taking it from him, Eridar made his way to the elf on his bed. "Now, I will give you two choices. You drink the antidote, or I make you drink it."
When he held it out to her, she reluctantly took the bottle and quickly drank its contents. When she was done, she handed it back to him, who in turn, returned it to the healer, thanking him. "It is of little consequence. If you need me, just call."
"I shall see if I can make use of your skills in the near future." The healer bowed in respect and left the room. He turned back to the elf. "You can rest in here. None of the guards will force themselves on you. I will call when the food is brought up so that you can eat."
"I…trust you." She said hesitantly, before lying down on the mattress pulling the covers over her. He stared for a long time at her sleeping figure before turning to the library behind him and pulling out a book to read. Nearly an hour and a half passed before the maid returned with a tray laden with an assortment of soup, fruits, and pastry. She hurriedly placed the meal on his table, before making a hasty exit.
Eridar went to wake the elf, not wanting the soup to cool. When he walked over to the side of the bed, he felt a distant yearning in his heart as he stared down at her, a feeling that he hadn't felt in four years. Reaching out with a hand, he gently shook the elf awake. "Don't sleep the whole day away. You need to eat like the rest of the world, elf."
When she blinked, he withdrew his hand to return to his seat on the chair by the table. He nudged the chair opposite him outwards with his leg. "Sit down and eat." She threw him a cold glare, before rising from the bed and gracefully slinking over to the table to take the open seat. She must not be used to being ordered around, he assumed with a mild humour, as he resumed reading. For a while, the elf gazed at her food with indifference until Eridar once again spoke up "The soup will get cold if you're just going to stare at it," he said, never taking his eyes off of the page.
"Will you not eat?"
He hesitated. "I will eat when you're sleeping. I do not feel comfortable removing my helm in the presence of others." She nodded slowly, picking up the spoon and taking a sip out of the steaming vegetable soup.
"Why is that?"
He chuckled wryly. "For someone who doesn't answer my questions, you certainly ask a lot."
"You don't have to answer if you do not wish to. If I remember correctly, I am your prisoner." He sighed, placing his book down to stare at her from the slits in his helm.
"I abandoned my identity long ago. Still, it seems that no matter how hard I try, I cannot let go of it entirely." He picked his book back up and turned the page, until a familiar female voice entered his mind, "You're very forthright with the elf."
"Does it matter?" He replied.
"Of course it does! Besides to me, you're finally opening up to someone about yourself. You won't even speak a word to your mother about your reasons for half of the things you do." Saphira replied. He glanced out the window to see a small speck in the sky. "What do you intend to do with her?"
"What else? Let her escape. I have no use for an elf," he said.
"Just like that?" confusion evident in his partner's thoughts
"I'm not a complicated person, you know that."
"Of course I do, that's why I do most of the thinking around these areas. I would like to meet your elf." He blinked with amusement as Saphira labeled the elf his. "Well, she is your prisoner."
"Is something amiss?" the elf asked as she noticed his change in attitude.
"Somebody wants to meet you," He answered as a torrent of air swept through the room, blowing the pages in his book and no doubt blowing away whatever warmth the elf's soup had left. Saphira landed next to the building, peering into the room with one of her large sapphire eyes. "Ask if I can personally speak to her." Looking to the elf, Eridar relayed her message, "She wants to know if she can speak with you herself. I would be very grateful if you were to accept, for I do not enjoy playing the role of a messenger."
She nodded, seemingly trusting Saphira more than him. "You may."
He turned back to his book as the two females conversed with one another. It seemed that little by little, the elf seemed to be relaxing in their presence, but still not entirely so. Caution outlined her every move, her every word. Her tenacity gave Eridar much to admire about her, "How could someone like Durza possibly have ambushed her?" When it was late, he closed his book and placed it back on the bookshelf.
"It is late and you two need to sleep. Saphira, leave the elf alone." He marched up and closed the window earning him a deeply amused rumble from the outside. She was interested in his antics. Before he could say another word, the elf was already climbing into his bed to sleep. "She is a very interesting person." Commented Saphira.
"Wouldn't you know?" He grumbled in his thoughts, his attention returning to the tray of food on the table. He was surprised to find a few things uneaten. Although the soup and apple were gone he found that the two pears and berry cake remained. He smiled and in one in one swift motion, he removed his helm, placing it on the table to reveal his dark brown hair and matching brown eyes. But his appearance didn't look like a human; no, far from it. Magic had altered his appearance until the tip of his ears had become pointed, his eyes slanted, and his face more angular in shape. His visage being more akin to an elf than a man. Bringing a pear to his mouth, he slowly ate it, savoring its sweet crispiness.
"She's surprised that we serve Galbatorix even though he doesn't know our true name. Why do we, I wonder?"
"Because I have to protect my mother, you know that," he replied, moving onto the next pear.
"Even so, don't forget that you have choices, Eragon. Do not condemn your life to this if you despise it."
He grunted, knowing that she was right and hating her for it. Staring back at the elf, he frowned. "What life was she living? Following the Varden? Fighting in a petty resistance group? What did she fight for?" Saphira quickly responded" Freedom, isn't that obvious?"
"At the cost of her own life?" He replied, incredulity evident in his thoughts. All of a sudden his protective urges sprung onto him once more and he moved towards the elf to securely tuck the blankets around her petite form to keep her warm. "Why am I doing this?"
"You care for her. There's no other explanation, dare I say you might even like her" Saphira replied with obvious mirth. "Isn't that wonderful?"
"If only," he opened the window again to see her more clearly. Reaching out, he gently stroked her snout. "But I have you and my mother; what more do I need? It'll only make my life more complicated trying to protect everyone I care for, much less like."
"You are too sweet," she replied, her blue eyes sparkling. She blew a puff of smoke out at him. "I will sleep, little one. You should get some rest too."
"Good night, then."
Hello Infinity here, you may be surprised that I changed the Eragon's cover name from Gabranth to Eridar. I did this because the name, although a good name just didn't fit the environment of the Inheritance universe in my opinion. I also changed his name to Eridar because I believe it would be fitting of Galbatorix to twist the name of Eridor, a famous dragon name, to Eridar as a way to show the world how benevolent he is despite doing otherwise. I hope you don't mind the change however if you do I shall change it back to Gabranth given that the story is not mine.