Eragon walked through the thick foliage with heavy steps, the deer he had killed resting across his shoulders. His muscles were tense from the weight making him place each foot carefully on the uneven terrain. At first, it seemed the distance wasn't great but it took him a few minutes to reach Saphira.
The blue dragoness was lying on the ground, pawing at the dirt. She was quiet, deep in thought as Eragon emerged from behind the trees. The sudden rustle of plants made her muzzle snap to the source of the noise suspecting danger but her gaze softened immediately as their souls reunited followed by her sweet croon.
"You're back!"
Eragon couldn't help but smile, "I am! Look what I brought you." He dropped the deer on the grass in front of her.
The dragoness growled in appreciation, feeling the rumble in her empty belly. Eragon saw her shaking limbs as she tried to get up. Suddenly, he heard a draconic yelp as her muscles gave in and she hit the ground with a loud thud. She curled her head away from him, trying to save her remaining pride.
"Wait, let me help you," Eragon spoke softly. He grunted, grabbing the deer again and dropped it near her front paws before stepping back.
"Thank you…" Saphira said quietly, trying to find her courage to look back at him.
The view of him toying with his hands made her tilt her head to the side in confusion. She glanced at the carcass he brought, then it just clicked in her mind.
"Oh… You used magic, didn't you?"
"Yeah…" He ran his hand through his hair. "I… did."
"I'm sorry, I know how difficult it is for you…" she dropped her gaze.
"No, don't worry about it. I just wanted you to have something to eat." He looked straight into her eyes, his own eyes gleaming. Saphira could feel his confidence across their bond, like her Little One would be ready to do that again if he had to. Many thoughts were going through her mind about what it could mean as she growled quietly. Her warble made Eragon drop his gaze. He found it difficult to look into her eyes and he shifted his sight to the carcass instead. The dragoness sensed the rising tension through his body as the feelings in their bond became darker and darker.
Trying to comfort him, she reached out and swiped her tongue over his cheek, silencing his worries. She went even further by nipping his jaw and growling softly, sending feelings of gratitude across the bond. Eragon tensed but quickly gave in to her affection as his face brightened with a genuine smile. She curled her head back to brush his cheek gently.
"It was a good catch, too. Maybe I should let you hunt for me instead," she said playfully.
"I wouldn't have minded it…"
Saphira knew he tried to be as casual about it as possible, but the way faint crimson appeared on his cheeks said the opposite.
"How sweet of you… but… next time, no magic, only your strength of arms and mind," she made her point by nipping his arm gently, then she paused.
"Are you sure you'd have been fine with going back to hunting? Since our training with Oromis and Glaedr, you have never considered it." She pushed her nose against his chest as their eyes met.
Eragon reached out his hand and started rubbing Saphira's exposed skin on top of her muzzle. The dragoness shivered from the delicate touch reminding her she would wear that scar for a while, however, it didn't seem to be too bad…
"Today's accident made me realise you're worth giving up my old morals." Before she could comprehend his words he added, "Go on, enjoy your meal before it gets cold."
The rider stepped back, giving her some space. She lingered for a moment, staring at him with her jaws parted. He walked to her side and slipped under her wing, choosing his usual spot to rest. Saphira glanced under her wing; he already embraced one of his dreamlike trances. Then, the rumble in her stomach reminded her she had not yet eaten anything the whole day.
She dug her teeth deep in the deer's skin and yanked out a big chunk of flesh before gulping it entirely. The flavor of blood and flesh spread across her tongue, urging her to get more. She kept licking fluids from her muzzle as she devoured her meal. Without resistance, she gave in her instincts. The peaceful scenery was disturbed by the snarls of a hungry dragoness, accompanied by the wet ripping of flesh and splashing of blood.
As the biggest hunger was sated, her mind began regaining control of her will to truly enjoy the meal.
"Mmm… Eragon did well…" she said licking her scaly chops. "I wonder if he would actually hunt for me … I hope so…" The dragoness felt the warmth spreading through her body, soothing the faint pain she still felt in her head. The idea of her Little One bringing her this meal made her heart swell. Saphira couldn't help but croon in the most melodic way possible and with a long exhale she went back to her meal.
…..
Eragon's irises widened in the dim cave corridor illuminated by the faint blue light of dwarven lanterns. Usually, such places made people nervous despite light helping lead the way but he knew this place well. Each step echoed from stone walls as the rider got closer and closer to the main living chamber. In the air, he could smell the scent of earth and grass mixed with a familiar fragrance he associated with home and safety. Soon, there were enough lanterns lighting the path so he could spot every scar and edge of the stones. At last, Eragon entered the main chamber. In the middle, there was a bowl-like pit filled with a mattress and pillows, some of which were ripped open and had been scattered around in complete chaos; a grin appeared on the rider's face as he moved his gaze to other things. A few bookshelves stood in the corner, essential to sort the sheer amount of scrolls he had to read through more often than he wished. A desk, a chair, and everything needed for the leader of Dragon Riders to do his scrollwork. Not far away was a cooking pot where he prepared meals for himself and sometimes for his Dear One.
A bit deeper inside, his sight locked onto the entrance to the smaller chamber on the right, illuminated by the gentle glow of lanterns. His face relaxed feeling the warm gusts of air coming from the room as his mind started to wonder about the past events that had led him to this moment. Pride spread across his body assuring him it was worth it.
The rider closed his eyes, letting his mind absorb what was around him. Steps as quiet as a gentle breeze disturbed the peaceful scenery, clicks of polished talons resonated from the corridor. Eragon stood on the tips of toes eager to find out what was going to happen, pretending he wasn't aware of her approach.
He opened his eyes, noticing a big shadow in front of him. Before he could do anything else, the barbed tongue did a long swipe on the back of his neck sending shivers down his spine. Then he felt another one closer to his cheek as the silence of the chamber was replaced by sounds of deep, affectionate croons.
….
A gasp left Eragon's mouth as he snapped out of daydream trance. The outside world was obscured by a semi-transparent wing and a gentle gust of wind and birds' songs reminded him where he was. Soon, his eyes locked onto Saphira's, who had curled her head below her wings after she finished her meal some time ago.
Blue eyes looked at him with an intense gaze.
"Hello," she said in a shy manner.
"Hey… I see you liked the deer a lot," a giggle left his mouth, making the dragoness puzzled.
"Let me show you." Saphira received a picture of herself with dried blood covering the sides and top of her muzzle where she couldn't reach with her tongue.
"Oh… Sorry," she let out a throaty grunt, preparing to leave her comfortable position.
"Lay still. I'll help you."
The rider took out a small handkerchief from his pocket, giving it a critical look. It should be enough. With little space under her wings, he had to move on all fours to reach her head, making him feel a bit silly. He could already feel the dragoness' amusement in their bond.
"This is embarrassing," he thought, crawling awkwardly toward her.
"Hmm… I think it's cute," her eyes brightened at the sight.
"Hush…" his cheeks became rose-tinted.
"Don't hush me, Rider."
"Fine."
She opened her jaws in her best attempt at a smile and the sight made Eragon's gaze soften.
When they were face to face, the rider gathered water from the ground using a simple spell to wet his handkerchief. Balancing precariously beneath the wing, he began to work at scrapping the dried blood from her scales. It came off relatively easily without the need to put much pressure in each stroke. However, her exposed skin was a different case.
"This might tickle a bit," he warned her.
The first swipe made her muscles tense, but she remained still. Then Eragon changed the pressure, trying something different this time, and soon he saw on the edge of his sight Saphira lowering her eyelids in pure bliss.
"Mhmm…" a dreamy voice resounded in his mind, making a grin appear on his face.
The rider gave her a few minutes of tender caress, even though her muzzle was already clean. He couldn't bring himself to stop while he was listening to her soft purring. However, his knees began to protest, thus the rider stopped after a moment. It took a while for Saphira to leave her dream-like state, then she looked up slowly. His wide smile made her reach out to nuzzle his cheek, feeling the warmth spreading in her heart. She curled her head back and flicked her tongue on his nose, her purring increasing in volume momentarily.
"What's that for?" He asked playfully as he leaned back to sit on his knees.
Saphira looked deep into his eyes, hesitating for a moment.
"For being my caring Little One." It sounded a bit blunt to her, but she couldn't articulate her feelings clearly.
"Oh… you deserve the best."
He replied as casually as he could but red came to his cheek. With an unspoken agreement, Saphira lifted her wings letting the rider out and then she settled down more comfortably.
The rider stretched his legs and arms, taking a deep breath thinking about what they shall do now. Before he could contemplate it, the corner of his eye caught what remained of the blue dragoness' breakfast; the limbs were licked of the flesh to the bone and the soil was red-tinted. Considering the scene, he wondered how he wasn't woken up from his dream trance.
'Hmm… Maybe I should surprise her with a little 'gift' now and then,' he thought privately.
Saphira tried to curl her head up but sharp pain raced down her neck, stopping her in mid-air.
"Eragon? What are we going to do now?" She kept her head low as a swirl of emotion flooded their bond.
The rider's heart pained seeing her like this as he bit inside of his cheek. Instead of replying, he went up to her to place his hand on her muzzle in a soothing manner and wrapped her mind in a caring embrace. He could feel her leaning into his touch as the tension began leaving her body a little.
"What would you like to do, my dear?"
"I…" She dropped her gaze. "I still feel dizziness in my head, I can't trust my wings." She whimpered. "So, we are stuck here for now. I am sorry," she let out a quiet whine.
The rider tightened his mind around hers. "It was an accident; I don't blame you for anything," he rubbed his thumb over her scales.
"Let's go explore around the lake; we will find a cozy place to set up camp and spend the night there. Just you and me."
"And the Eldunari…"
He nodded.
"We will keep an eye on you during the night, Bjartskular," Glaedr chimed in.
"Alright, but…" she paused, "but you sleep with me." Then she held her breath.
Eragon grinned. "Of course!" he leaned forward and pecked her nose before she could react.
Saphira pulled her limbs in underneath her in preparation to get up so he took a few steps back to give her some space. She took a moment to test the strength of her muscles before, with a grunt, she stood up again. Folding her wings neatly to her side proved more challenging, however. She ended up focusing so much on the limbs that didn't want to respond properly that she didn't notice herself leaning too much weight on her left forepaw. It buckled and, with a panicked yelp, she nearly toppled over. Eragon rushed in to support her as she caught herself. "Take it easy…" he whispered into her mind as they began taking a few steps forward.
"It feels like… I don't have… have control over my body…" she stumbled with words.
"Shh… It'll pass soon." He rubbed his hand on her sapphire scales in a calming manner.
"For now, let's just take it one step at a time. Okay?"
"Okay" she replied in a soft voice. Together, they started to walk back in the direction of the Talita.
…
The pair were walking through the forest side by side, focusing on their bond and the path ahead. A gentle breeze cooled their skin as the scenery helped to calm their nerves. Their minds intertwined with each other as their souls observed the world through both pairs of eyes. It helped the dragoness traverse through foliage and avoid treacherous dimples, but there were moments when the rider had to push onto her side quickly when she lost her footing. At one time, it didn't work, forcing him to move away lest he be crushed under her. Saphira winced in pain as her shoulder absorbed the impact. She got up with a loud huff, but Eragon could feel her embarrassment. He quickly healed the spot, hoping such an accident wouldn't happen again.
Suddenly, they stumbled onto something akin to a clearing in the forest, only it was long and narrow. Wide enough for two horse carts to drive alongside each other, it seemed to stretch on forever, disappearing from view between the thick foliage of the forest. "Hmm… that's strange…" Saphira thought as she curled her neck down to scent the ground. "It can't be natural, don't you think, Little One?"
"No, it can't." Eragon considered the unnatural phenomenon for a moment. "It is almost like a road."
"But we haven't seen any signs of even a small settlement, much less one big enough to justify such a large road."
"I know," Eragon admitted with an unsure sigh. "But would you mind digging here a bit? Just to make sure."
Her paw removed the top layer of dirt, revealing old cobblestone. Everyone tensed up.
"Someone had to make this road!" the pair replied in shock at the same time.
"Elbrith! We should follow it to find out where it leads! Maybe we will find people here!" The rider beamed with excitement. Saphira flexed her talons, watching dirt falling from her toes. Her gaze shifted to the cobblestone and thickness of the layer of dirt.
"Calm down, we can't be sure there will even be people, though it's a good id—" Glaedr began.
"This road hadn't been used for a very long time…" Saphira interrupted their conversation. "It could have been dozens of years since a human, dwarf or elf walked down this road… Whoever used it could be g— Ah!" She curled her head down, exposing her fangs as the bond was flooded with sharp pain.
"Are you alright?!" Her clenched eyes opened, finding riders' one looking at her worriedly.
"My head… It hurts…" she took a deep breath. "What's going on with me, Elbrith?"
"You have a concussion, Saphira. Sometimes it appears as a sharp headache when you think too intensely or your mind is overwhelmed by stimulus. It could have been worse than that without Eragon's immediate help. There was a chance you wouldn't have woken up…"
The dragoness fell silent, locking her eyes with her Little One. She tried to say something but failed each time. Instead, she pushed her muzzle forward and, placing its tip on his cheek, her tongue slipped through her chops and started caressing his skin gently.
Eragon gasped, feeling her mind embracing him tightly and her entire self-extended into almost every corner of his soul. His chest felt like it was going to explode as the heat began to spread from his heart. The rider clenched his fingers holding her muzzle still but couldn't stop a quiet moan escaping his lips as he whimpered her name.
Glaedr and the rest of Eldunarii watched the exchange, feeling the emotions emanating from their bond in awe. Calling her name again, Eragon managed to free himself enough from her grasp to get his words to reach her mind.
"I love you, too, Saphira, but let me get control over my body," he spoke up weakly, but she cut him off with a possessive hum instead. However, as he tried to leave her grasp again, he noticed a growing pain emanating from her. With a gasp, she released her rider and whimpered quietly.
"Era… make it stop…" she dug her claws into the ground, her eyes clenched tightly. Eragon joined her mind, trying to take some of the pain on him. He brought her head to his chest and began caressing her ears gently.
"Shh… breath slowly," he whispered.
They stood there hugging one another as the dull ache lessened over time. The rider noticed her muscles relax, letting him hold the weight of her muzzle. Her nostrils widened with each slow breath, taking her rider's scent of comfort and safety in. After a while, Eragon raised her head to his level . Once again he could see her crying-like expression as sapphire eyes locked with his.
"Will it ever stop?" she asked weakly.
"It will, I promise. You just need some rest." He sent her thoughts of comfort and reassurance through their bond as he embraced her soul. Without turning his gaze away, he wondered what to do now.
"Elbrith, what shall we do?" Everyone fell silent for a moment.
"We must get back to the Talita but we can follow the path south for time being since it's the way we need to take to go back to the ship. I don't want you to overexert yourself by flying, Bjartskular, so we continue on foot. We will take as many breaks as you need." The golden Eldunari was aware that the blue dragoness wouldn't be able to take off for some time yet. It was still unknown how long her condition would be affecting her. "How is your head, youngling?" he asked softly.
Saphira was watching her Little One like it was the last time she would ever see him. The warm brown eyes were looking at her, expressing the care and love he felt for her. A small smile appeared on his face as he did his best to soothe her nerves and pain. 'I can go through this with you…' she thought privately. Strengthened by her resolve, she curled her muzzle back a bit to bump it on his cheek gently.
"I think it's alright," she wrapped Eragon's mind in a gentle, loving hug. His body tensed but then relaxed as it basked in her presence. He reached out to guide her muzzle onto his shoulder and when their bodies met, a low purr vibrated through the air. "Lead the way, my Little One."
…
The old road seems to have been built sturdy since it looked like it would never be overgrown by trees. Indeed, there wasn't even a single bush on it, just grass. The pair were walking down the path, listening to the chirps of birds and the gentle rustle of leaves. The sky was blocked by the trees' canopies, letting rays of light shine through a thick layer of leaves. The scenery made the dragoness relax in her rider's grasp, enjoying his gentle touch on her scales as well as on her soul. She measured her steps carefully to avoid toppling over or overtake her Little One. From time to time, she lifted her muzzle up to look around and scent air, keeping her guard high enough to protect him despite her poor condition. The faint pain still lingered in her head, reminding her to keep things slow. After scanning their surroundings, she always came back to put her muzzle on his shoulder, letting out a soft purr like this time.
Eragon kissed the side of her muzzle gently and her purr only intensified as an electric jolt ran from the tip of her nose to the end of her tail. Observing her reaction made the rider grin widely and give her a good rub on her nose.
"Mmm… I don't think I have ever told you how nice it feels," Saphira whispered in his mind.
"Your purr can't hide that from me. I love seeing you happy and relaxed."
"I chose wisely," she replied and nuzzled his neck tenderly. Looking back toward the road ahead, she added after a pause, "Do you think this path leads to somewhere? I can't tell if it will take days to reach… whatever was left of who built this road, " she finished in a bit of a worried tone.
"It's hard to tell, you had a point saying the road could have been here under the dirt for decades. My excitement got the better of me, as always." Saphira snapped her eyes at Eragon, hearing the little praise.
"That's why you have me, my Little One," she added, a little of her old self confidence resurfacing. It made Eragon's heart soar to see her old mannerisms return.
"Yes, yes, you're my logical part of my brain," he replied, playing along with her joke.
"As long as I remember," she exposed her fangs in the best attempt to smile.
Eragon pushed her muzzle away playfully, gaining a sweet growl from her in response. The rider felt happy seeing the mocking side of her personality still intact, which was a good sign after the accident. Maybe after a good night's rest, she would be ready to fly again. However, they still had a long distance to cover on foot before they could seek shelter for the night. There did not seem to be any caves nearby, thus they would need to improvise like in the old days. The thought of the past when it was only him and Saphira crossed his mind.
He remembered her old hiding spot in the forest where she always waited for him to come the next morning. When she was bigger, she found a place where she could lay down for the night protected from the wind, and bushes providing cover from curious animals. During a visit, the rider sometimes found her still resting, but when she had started to grow larger than him, she just lifted her wings, inviting him to cuddle with her. It was something he had always accepted eagerly. Then she would wrap her muscular paws around him and they would just lay there for several minutes. Eragon recalled these moments fondly, putting him in an optimistic mood for the rest of the journey.
As they walked down the path, Saphira listened to her Little One thoughts, making her heart warm from the old, cheerful memories when life was so much simpler than these days. No wars, no Vardens or eggs-destroyer, only him and her enjoying life together. Then the Razacs came, flipping their world upside down and pushing them onto the path of fear, duty, and responsibility for the fate of all races in Alagaësia. The blue dragoness's mind went back to those moments when their lives were put in danger and the constant fear that the next battle may be their last one. As her mind continued bringing up all these memories, adrenaline began to flow in her veins and affected her entire body. Her mind raced through memories in quick succession, one after the other from the beginning.
Suddenly, a new memory appeared in their bond making the dark thoughts clouding her mind stop: The discovery of their true names at Doru Araeba. Saphira remembered she was the first to find out hers but it took more time for Eragon to figure out his. However, when they both shared them with one another, it was the most wonderful moment of her life. She didn't believe someone could declare love to another in a more significant way than through one's true name. At that moment, she knew her Little One loved her with his entire heart. Her mind was in euphoric ecstasy, letting her forget about the dark reality they were in. It was the push she needed to go forward, otherwise one day her mask of confidence could have been shattered in the worst moment possible. With that thought, she reached out to nuzzle the back of Eragon's neck gently, lingering for a moment to take in his scent and hum softly. He hugged her soul tenderly in response.
'Speaking of love…' she thought privately as she curled her head back and locked her sapphire eyes on her partner-of-mind-and-heart. The dragoness recalled the woman who tried to seduce her Little One… The memory alone made her expose her teeth a little but then her attention went to his miserable attempts to court the elven princess back in the day. She had felt the burning desire in him for Arya since she was freed from Durza and it only became stronger while she had been traveling with them to Du Weldenvarden. She knew it would have ended up badly for him considering the age gap was simply too large but he didn't listen. Maybe visiting the elven forest made the matter worse? Then her train of thought stopped yet again.
The night when she heard that faint song in the air making her blood slowly boil with heat. She tried to fly away from the source with no success until she gave up and landed in a clearing. To her surprise, a pair of deer walked past her and started their mating ritual right in front of her. The dragoness's mind quickly connected one with another and, while she was watching the scene unfold in front of her, the instinct at the back in her head urged her to take action. Saphira remembered that moment very well; she quickly took off and flew to the one her instincts told her to find. She flew to her Little One.
The dragoness paused her journey to the past, trying to digest what had happened back then. She snapped her eyes back towards Eragon, staring back at him for a moment.
'It was a mating spell-song, as I was told later, but… why, to all places I could have flown, I went back to him?' she said to herself deep in thought.
She was about to dismiss it as magic fooling her senses, but was it really that? The dragoness recalled the bliss she felt as his smooth hands touched her muzzle as soon as she landed. The warmth in her lower abdomen only intensified in his presence as she released an amorous croon, but then that wonderful feeling had disappeared when the elven princess used a spell to clear her drunk mind…
Her eyes kept looking at her Little One walking in front of her. His muscles flexed with each step and a good head of hair moved with the wind, hypnotizing the dragoness. The same heat began to spread in her veins, reaching each corner of her body and making her lower abdomen burn. As an amorous croon was about to leave her throat, her mind made her stop in her tracks. Her eyes widened and, for a moment, her jaw lowered in shock. But she quickly regained her composure and hurried to catch up with her rider before he noticed something was wrong, sealing off part of her mind to think… alone.
'But… It can't be… A Dragon and a rider were never meant… to be together that way…' she spoke slowly, trying to wrap her mind around the concept of that kind of relationship.
She darted her eyes around, then they slowly looked down to the ground in front of her. The dragoness thought it was unnatural; dragons are supposed to pair with other dragons and humans with other humans or el— Then she fell silent and looked up at Eragon who didn't realise what his dragoness was going through. Her breathing increased as her mind considered the possibility her Little One would have spent less and less time with her if Arya had arrived with Him… The quietest whine left her throat as her heart told her what she should do, but is it right? She felt torn and lost.
"What is on your mind, youngling?" Glaedr's caring voice interrupted her dwelling on the topic.
"I thought about the past, the present… and the future…" she said dismissively.
"You two have been through a lot together," he began, knowing she tried to avoid answering the question, "for better and for worse. You faced obstacles many would not have been able to overcome. But you did."
Noticing her darkening, thoughts he quickly added, "I know, Saphira, that you are going through a difficult period and everything seems to be hopeless but you have him, your rider. Like in the past, he will help you to go through it."
"I…" words got stuck in her throat as she released an anxious growl, making Eragon turn around, revealing his calm face. She looked up at him and her gaze softened a bit.
The golden Eldunari hummed, "You don't need to tell me what troubles you, my youngling, but know one thing…" He paused, gathering his thoughts, "I… saw how you interact with Eragon when he tried to cheer you up; I don't need my real eyes to see how happy and safe you feel in those moments. I could feel it. Get closer to your rider, spend time together, cherish one another and soon the weight you carry on your wings would be gone," he finished with an encouraging tone.
"I… I will try." She didn't know what else to say.
"I don't think you will regret it," he hummed in approva., "Just follow your heart." Then, he withdrew from her mind.
Coming back to reality, as Saphira met Eragon's questioning eyes, she released a friendly croon, trying to sooth her rider's worries. He gave her a genuine grin with a gentle brush in their bond, warming her mind. Then he turned his gaze back to the path ahead. However, instead of carrying on, Saphira still lingered on the last words of her teacher privately.
'"Just follow your heart…" But is what my heart trying to tell me is true or…not?' The dragoness whimpered in confusion and then fell silent. Her jaw dropped in realisation that her Master may suspect what she was thinking about just a moment before he spoke up. An irrational fear of being looked down on by him entered her mind as her claws started to leave deeper gashes in the dirt with each step. "No… No, he wouldn't…" she tried to convince herself, recalling how caring his tone of voice was… almost parent-like… and the tension left her body slowly. Still, she kept in mind what her teacher may have implied. With that aside, for now, Saphira focused on coming up with an idea of how to check the truth about what her heart told her without making her relationship with Eragon… uncomfortable.
Her mind recalled memories about how she used to show affection to Firnen… She clenched her jaws at just the thought of him, but she dwelled on it further. She remembered how they had rubbed each other's bodies, licks and nips at each other's jawlines in the way she could have described as human kissing, draping wings above one another during sleep and lots of cuddles. The dragoness absentmindedly went further, recalling a more… intimate way of showing affection, but quickly shook her head to get rid of these thoughts.
Looking from a different perspective, licks and nips weren't something extraordinary considering she did such things countless times in the past with her Little One… 'Maybe… That is what I should try…' she whispered as she locked her gaze on the rider in front of her. 'If… If my heart had spoken the truth…,' she was afraid saying it out loud, 'would he return my feelings?' Her heart skipped a beat and her mind became a storm of thoughts. So much so that she started sensing a faint pain emerging inside her head yet again.
'One step at a time, Saphira,' she reminded herself. Then, she suddenly realized that she had debated with herself for much too long. Worrying that Eragon may have noticed, she quickly hastened to his side and, to hide her inner turmoil from him, she rested her muzzle on his shoulder in an unspoken request for affection. Eragon only smiled and patted her muzzle and, for a moment, Saphira closed her eyes in bliss as she delighted in the feeling of his smooth fingers gliding over her exposed skin. They continued down the road in contented silence, just enjoying each other's company..
The pair continued walking down the path for the next hour without disturbance, enjoying each other's presence in their bond. Sometimes they stopped to let their feet rest for a moment but, a few minutes later, they took the road again. The greenery began to grow thinner and something strange could be seen between the trees, like walls of plants.
"Look at this, Saphira, this can't be natural!"
"Wait!" she called him back, but he already ran up to the place.
Eragon grabbed some of the leaves and pulled them back, revealing an old, dark stone surface. If it had any colour, it had faded away a long time ago. The rider looked around, spotting similar shapes further away also obscured by vegetation and quickly came to conclusion.
"We found an abandoned village or town… or what is left of it," he said to his partner and the Eldunari.
The area was overgrown by trees and bushes to the point they wouldn't have been able to spot it from the air, he thought.
Saphira circled around the structure that looked like it might have been a fragment of a gate, trying to scent it. She stepped closer but, as her paw touched the ground, she heard a loud crunch and quickly pulled her paw back. She lowered her muzzle to investigate but suddenly she froze. Noticing his dragoness reaction, Eragon walked to her side quickly. The pair of holes in a human skull stared back at them, as if accusing them of interrupting its final rest. It missed the top which had been crushed by Saphira's weight. The rider placed a hand on his partner's neck absentmindedly
"Whoever used to live here is probably gone," the sorrowful tone of Glaedr's voice broke the silence. "Judging by the ruins and skeleton we just found, someone must have attacked the village and wiped it out. It seems… There was no one to bury the bodies, too…"
"Could it have been Galbatorix?" Eragon asked as he looked around, trying to grasp the scale of damage to the village.
"I think not. According to what Oromis told me, the traitor has never moved beyond the borders of Alagaësia after he defeated all the dragon riders and killed the dragons who didn't want to obey him…" he paused. "It happened so fast…" Eragon could feel the sadness in his voice.
"Should we… bury the skeleton?" the rider asked. It didn't feel right to him to leave it like that.
"Leave it be, we shall not disturb the dead in their eternal rest..." He replied, his voice turning to a whisper.
The rider figured it was time to move on, turning his attention to Saphira. She was frozen in place and Eragon noticed she was still holding her shaking paw in the air. The dragoness starred at the inner side of the paw, flexing her toes to get rid of the shards of bones. He quickly reached out with his mind and found her mind darkening, catching glimpses of battles they fought against the Empire from her perspective. They were so many, he couldn't call her with his voice and, as he took a step towards her, one vivid vision leaked into his mind. Saphira was charging at one of Galbatorix's soldiers in fury. She launched him with her head into the air and he landed far away with all his bones broken. Saphira snarled in a rage and pounced on him, smashing his skull like it was nothing. She paused for a split second, then the smell of blood entered connected minds and she continued the charge against more soldiers. Her only thought was to kill everyone who could threaten him.
He withdrew from her mind sharply and grabbed her paw quickly. The dragoness almost jumped, startled by her rider. Eragon began massaging her paw the best he could as he looked up, trying to catch her gaze. Her body was ready to flee at any faint sign of danger and he knew it. He could feel tensed muscles under her scales and hear her rapid breaths.
"Shh… you are safe with me… there is nothing to worry about…" he tried to soothe her anxiety with a calm voice, continuing the gentle massage. Saphira took her paw away and wrapped it around him, pressing him to her chest as best as she could. Her head curled down, pressing it to his chest as she released a distressed whine from her throat. He could see her eyes full of sorrow meeting his own. As the rider joined her mind, sending thoughts of comfort and love, he began rubbing her cheeks tenderly.
"Know you are still my Saphira regardless of what happened in the past," he whispered in her mind. "I'm here for you whenever you need me".
Trusting his instinct, he leaned forward and kissed her muzzle gently. He could feel her mind stop for a second, unsure what to do, but soon she pulled back a little and flicked her tongue against his lips followed by licks on his jawline. She buried her nose in the crook of his neck, whimpering sadly. He parted his lips still feeling the ghost-like touch of her tongue. Absentmindedly, he licked his lips and got the taste of her saliva. Eragon didn't find it bad, it was almost neutral to him in taste… Meanwhile, Saphira was wrapping her soul around his, seeking comfort. He closed his eyes trying to focus entirely on the dragoness.
"Thank you…" she whispered as she tightened her embrace, "I never want to lose you… I never want to go through that ever again… so many battles, so much blood to save the one dear to me… But if I have to… I will do it again…and again…" she struggled to keep sobs inside her throat.
"I love you, my dear, I will do the same for you if I have to. Fortunately, the war is over, my beautiful, and we can start enjoying life like we used to back in your early days in the Spine. Just you and me, like in the old days." He rubbed her ear tenderly.
"I would love to, Little One…" her heart began to feel like it was going to burst with hope as her mind recalled that joyful moment of her life. "Can you… promise me that?" She locked her gaze with his.
"Of course, I promise," he answered in the ancient language, and then he added, "We will have a happy life together," and brushed her cheek in affection.
Saphira hummed softly, nuzzling his neck tenderly.
Little did they know that they kept their minds open and one golden Eldunari and few others listened to their conversation. Glaedr rumbled in realisation, knowing they both may need guidance in the future, and he made a mental note to reach out to a few friends he used to know back in the old days of the Dragon Riders Order.
"Are you alright, youngling?" Gleadr asked the dragoness in the most comforting tone he could muster. He observed the pair lost in their own world for a moment before Saphira curled her head up, still looking at her rider.
"I think I feel a little better, Elbrith," she cooed calmly. "Though… I am not sure if it will last."
"I am glad. Remember, one step at the time, Bjartskular, and you will overcome the nightmares you face." He paused for a moment, unsure, then carefully embraced her mind with his. He felt the dragoness tense up, but then she relaxed as Eragon joined in.
"We all care about you, Saphira,"tThe rider's voice spread across their bond.
After a moment, they left her mind, leaving the dragoness surprised by the affection her teacher showed to her. As far as she had remembered, Elbrith was reserved in showing his feelings to her in such a manner. Nonetheless, she brushed his mind in gratitude.
A thought crossed Glaedr's mind. Since their arrival in the village, it had become darker with little light shining through trees. If they continued walking down the road, the night would catch them in the middle of nowhere with no safe place to set up a camp.
"My friends, let's find a place to stay for the night. The sun is setting and soon it would be too dark for us to continue the trip… and we all need rest."
"Maybe… we could find a warehouse where we could set up camp?" Saphira suggested in a shy manner. Then, feeling encouragement from her rider, she continued, "The village seems to be large enough to have one… The walls will protect us from wind and curious animals."
"Great idea," Glaedr rumbled in approval. "If we don't find one, we will take the first big house we find." Then he turned his attention to the rider. "Eragon, you will take care of the protection wards, just in case. Also… We have forgotten about our friends on the Talita…"
Eragon's eyes widened in shock, feeling completely embarrassed about neglecting his duty to report to Umaroth. "I completely forgot about informing them what is going on. I am sorry Elbrith…"
"We all had enough things to worry about, I cannot blame you, Eragon, but… Umaroth-Elda won't be happy about it."
"I know…" the rider finished.
"Well, let's get to work before it gets completely dark," Glaedr rumbled.
"Naturally." He turned to the road ahead, taking a few steps but then he realised Saphira wasn't by his side. He turned back toward her and raised his brow in question.
Saphira spoke up in his mind, "I checked if we are alone here. Except for small critters, we are the only inhabitants of the village."
Eragon smacked himself mentally, another thing he forgot to do. "I will place the wards anyway."
"I know you will," she rumbled sweetly as she walked up to him.
The dragoness looked at him with an odd look, then used her muzzle to turn him around then placed her head on his shoulder firmly. His arm moved on its own accord, grasping her muzzle and making Saphira hum in approval. It seemed she really liked it, the rider thought as a wide grin appeared on his face and began walking down the road. It must have looked funny from the distance, like he was leading a giant horse.
"I am not one of those four-legged smelling creatures," she jabbed in a playful tone.
"Of course not, my Queen of the Sky," Eragon giggled in their bond.
"That is right." He couldn't help but peck her muzzle, hearing a gentle growl coming from her throat.
….
The pair walked down the wide street overgrown by bushes and grass. On each side, there were ruins of buildings; walls or whatever was left of them. It looked like the destruction affected the outer areas of the village the most. As they continued down the path, they noticed different types of ruins. Eragon and Saphira looked at sharp edges of stone pillars pointing up the darkening sky, suggesting two-floor buildings had been here. Some of them still had fragments of a second floor but they were only nearby supporting beams. The couple felt like they were accused of indifference by the ruins around them.
Eragon spotted a more preserved building on the right side, just before the road widened in front of them. His curiosity urged him to go closer. The front and the rest of the building were more or less intact and its style suggested it was designed by humans. The rider frowned when he realised there was still a faint tone of brown paint on the elevation. Other ruins had lost their colours a long time ago. He noticed Saphira looking inside through a broken window but lack of light made it hard to spot anything interesting for her.
The rider stood in front of the door frame, hesitating to step inside. After Saphira sated her curiosity, she looked at her Little One. Her eyes showed signs of exhaustion even though she was ready to do whatever he would have asked for. He sighed deeply; these ruins wouldn't leave any time soon. As he turned around, his hand glided over the wall and felt a deep scar in stone. It made the rider pause, glancing at the scar back. A few questions appeared in his mind, however, it was not time to investigate. It was getting dark already.
The pair entered the large area without ruins. They could spot them further away between trees but one caught their attention in particular, something they were looking for.
The warehouse was in the middle of the ruins of the village as they suspected. It still had the remains of the roof with holes where the last rays of daylight went through. The rider walked with Saphira at his side while their curious eyes darted around taking the scenery in.
The space between each wall was enough for Saphira to turn around and they were at least three times longer than she. The roof was tall enough for her to not crouch to get in, thankfully. Moss and grass claimed structures made by a man, making the pair feel like they were surrounded by greenery from every direction. In front, Eragon spotted a room by the end of the building with a hole in the wall where there must had been a window a long time ago. The roof was the most intact there and it wasn't overgrown by any plants. Maybe it was some kind of office, he thought, where people checked documents of deliveries and organised the cargo. Judging by the size of this place, it used to be an important destination on the merchants' maps. This village could have been a place where merchants stopped to rest, or sell their goods before moving on down their path. It reminded him how it was in Carvahall back in the old days. However, in that case, merchants have spent a day or maybe two before moving back to the main part of Alagaësia. Although, here they must have stayed longer, Eragon thought. Maybe the term village was not appropriate anymore, considering what he saw.
Saphira walked closer to examine the walls, stretching her slim neck to check the roof above them. The wooden beams seemed to her to still be strong enough, despite years of being exposed to rain and wind. After making sure the roof wouldn't collapse on them during the night, she growled in approval and locked her gaze on her Little One standing right in front of the room.
She walked up to him silently and touched the back of his neck, brushing him gently. His sweet scent sent a pleasurable shiver through her body as eyelids dropped a bit. Eragon turned around,a bit surprised. She couldn't help but gush warm breath on his face with a smirk in her eyes.
"I think it is a good place to stay for the night…" she spoke up in a dreamy voice "…right here." She scraped the floor with her paw where she stood.
Eragon looked into her eyes feeling her content with a faint tint of excitement in their bond. He cupped her muzzle lightly, then saw her close her eyes for a moment, letting out low purr from her throat. The rider clenched his teeth; he could sense her happiness, but his heart was conflicted with his mind. The former urged him to give in to the moment, but the latter held him back as it recalled Arya all of a sudden. He let his hand fall in resignation, making Saphira open her eyes again as her mind reached him.
"What is wrong, my Little One?" she pressed her nose against his chest.
"I…," he sighed "…I have to let others in Alagaësia know what is going on. We haven't talked to them for a week… and I need to talk to Umaroth…" the rider scratched his lowered head in thought.
Saphira knew the message behind his words; she knew him too well for his own good. The reminder of the elven princess caused a spark of irritation and… jealousy in her mind. She quickly brushed the thought away, focusing back on her partner-of-mind-and-heart instead.
"It will be fine…" she licked his cheek gently, then curled her head back. "You… can always talk with me about it."
"I think I should…" he added in a sad tone. "I'll grab some wood for the campfire, maybe some fruits on the way… Are you not hungry? I could find something for you." he quickly added.
"No, you don't need to. I'm not hungry, but thank you for asking."
He nodded at her response then turned around, clenching his hand on his sword's hilt. Saphira closed her eyes and embraced his mind in a loving hug, making him stop. A single tear ran down his cheek and he held tightly onto the embrace for a moment, sharing his pain. Reluctantly, he left her warm touch when he suddenly realized that he was crying. With a shaking breath, he wiped the tears away with his sleeves and walked outside with firm steps.
….
Saphira lay curled on the floor, waiting for her Little One to come back. She could still feel his presence nearby as he was collecting wood for a campfire. Considering how much he already had, it seemed he lingered to come back with his still brooding mood. He stopped a few times to look into some of the more intact ruins but, after finding nothing else than moss and rotten wood, he moved on. He needed some time to calm down, she thought. The dragoness looked into the distance, knowing she would need to try to get him to open up about the sensitive matter. She rumbled when her own problem crossed her mind. "No… my Little One's issue is more important," she whispered. "I just need to be there for him as I used to."
But was she, though, weeks before leaving Alagaësia? The sudden dreadful thought made her growl. She looked back into her memory, making her realise they had barely spent time together when they weren't on a mission. She chose to stay with Firnen… and Eragon kept trying to woo Arya and it seemed he succeeded… Saphira fell silent, placing her muzzle on the floor in sadness. But then paused; shouldn't she be happy her partner-of-mind-and-heart found love with the elven princess? Then why did her energy leave her limbs at just the thought of it? She whimpered weakly, then checked on her Little One again; he was finally coming back.
The rider walked into the warehouse with a big pile of branches in his arms and some more floated behind him. He noticed Saphira raising her head to look up at him. She turned her muzzle to the side, letting out a confused growl. He smiled at her weakly, walking up to a spot near her bulk and began preparing the fire for the night. The sun already hid behind the horizon so he had to work quickly before the last light of twilight also faded away. He worked in silence, feeling the dragoness gaze as well as her concerned soul in their bond. His hands moved slower and slower as memories started flooding his mind, his hand hovering above the ground with a branch in it. Eragon shook his head, getting rid of the distracting thoughts, and quickly finished the campfire. He went up to the saddle's pouches looking for food but he couldn't bring himself to make eye contact with his beloved dragoness. After he pulled out a loaf of bread, he slumped on the floor, leaning on her right arm and began eating.
"Saphira? Would you mind?" he spoke up in a distant voice as he stared at the still unlit campfire.
The dragoness curled her neck to take a look at his emotionless face. With a confirming grunt, she parted her jaws then released a small fire stream, setting the branches on fire immediately. The female stared at the flames for a moment, hypnotized, before she pulled back. The rider's expression was still the same, thus she brushed his mind asking for permission to join his. However, she received no answer so she began enveloping him with warmth and care. At last, he responded with his own caress of her soul. Saphira began humming a soothing melody she once heard at the Varden's camp, hoping it would help here as well. They were lost in their little world as night claimed the ruins of the village, the peace only being disturbed by the crackling fire and the low tones of dragoness' song.
"My students?" Glaedr spoke up, bringing them out of their peaceful trance. "My apologies…" Both blinked as they went back to their respective bodies reluctantly. "We should let Umaroth knows where we are and what has happened." He tried to bring up the matter the most tactful way possible.
"Oh, right… Yes, Ebrithil," Eragon replied emotionlessly then, with a sigh he reached out his hand, "Adurna Risa." Water began filling up a dimple in the ground, enough to reach the size of a mirror, he released the spell and focused on another one.
"Draumr kópa ." The water surface began changing its colours and soon he could see the fury elf staring into the distance. He pushed his thoughts into the elf's mind. At first, he met an iron wall, but then they were lowered, noticing a friendly visitor.
"Argetlman?" Blodgharm replied, letting a worried tone slip through.
"Hello, my friend. I need to speak with you and Umaroth-elda." Feeling urgency in Eragon's voice, the elf decided to hold his own questions.
"Where are you and Saphira? I was just going to send elves to look for you," Umaroth spoke up, letting out a growl betraying his irritation and worry.
"I am sorry, Elbrith. During the hunt, Saphira had a little accident… " he paused feeling shivers running down his spine, "She is alright but the hit she took to her head was serious enough…"
"…that we do not know when I could take off and stay in the air…" Saphira finished, embarrassed.
There was silence for a moment as tension filled in the air. "How did that happen?" the elder dragon asked in resignation.
"I am not sure…" the blue dragoness whispered. "I waited for Eragon's mark to leap on the deer that was running towards me… and from then my memory is missing. I remember waking up with a painful headache in Eragon's arms…" she clawed at the floor, leaving deep gashes.
"She has a concussion, Umaroth-elda," Glaedr chimed in. "We couldn't risk taking flight, considering Bjartskular had problems walking to begin with…" His tone showed great concern over the dragoness.
Saphira, hearing these words, tightened her jaws as thoughts of being hopeless and unworthy of being a dragon entered her mind; with a struggle, she tried to push them back.
"I see… good that nothing more serious happened, Bjartskular…" Umaroth hummed, pausing for a moment. "Where are you?" he asked, addressing all of them.
"We found an old road deep in the forest which led us to the ruins of a village… or small town. It looks like it was attacked by someone… or something ages ago. We only found rubble and the remains of one humanoid…" Eragon trailed off, feeling the Eldunari's curiosity.
"Interesting… Try to investigate and find out about the village as much as you can, Rider. I have a feeling it may be critical to solving the mystery of this land…"
"Of course, Elbrith. We don't know how far away we are from the Talita. We are only aware she is somewhere in the south, so it may take days to cover the distance if Saphira cannot take… off ", hislast words barely left his mouth as he realised it may not be a tactful way to mention it.
"Fair enough; please keep us informed about your progress." Eragon could tell the Eldunari barely withheld his avalanche of questions. He was thankful Umaroth kept them for himself for now.
"Naturally," both rider and dragoness replied.
"I will look after them," Glaedr added.
"I wish you a safe and good night, all of you," Umaroth said, then the spell was ended.
Eragon sighed deeply, feeling the energy leaving his muscles as he leaned back on Saphira's arm more. He got up, recalling to his mind the protection wards that must still be placed before all of them could rest for the night. Saphira observed her Little One as he walked from one hole in the walls of the warehouse to another, putting the protection spells in place. She could feel his attention to details, making sure they would have a safe and peaceful night. What worried her, though, was his distant mood. It clouded his emotions ever since he had recalled Arya to his mind. She knew it would not be pleasant for him, but he needed to cry his heart out or it would eat him from inside. She paused in realisation; she was in the same situation as her precious rider. A growl left her jaws in slight annoyance. 'Maybe I need such a talk as well…? But first… Eragon…' she thought.
Speaking of whom, he had just finished his work and was coming back to her. She looked at him, letting out q soft croon and touched his mind tenderly. A faint smile appeared on his face as he returned to the same spot, leaning on her shoulder to stare at the fire as if he was in a trance.
'Here goes nothing.' Saphira curled her head then brushed his cheek gently.
"Yes, my dear?" Eragon seemed to be lost.
"You know you can talk about everything with me, Little One. The good and the bad things." She paused to gather her thoughts as she noticed him taking a sharp breath in. "After you mentioned Arya… you became really upset. Please tell me what bothers you…" Saphira flicked her tongue on his cheek lovingly.
"I… " he swallowed audibly as his fist clenched, and eyes shone with the emotions boiling inside him. Should he dodge her question again and ignore it like he had been doing since they both left? Or was it like trying to run away from the inevitable? The rider looked at the night sky above them with trembling jaws. "Whatever was between me and her is gone or… rather, it will be gone soon. The time and distance will erode the relationship I had tried to form for so long."
"Oh… Eragon…" she crooned sweetly, wrapping his mind with warm comfort. "She can still visit you one day."
"With her being the Queen of Elves? Trying to keep Alagaësia away from the chaos after the war? Unlikely." He ran his hand down his face fighting back his tears.
"Never say never; fate may cross your path with her's again,one day. "
"Heh… Speaking of fate… I was such a fool." Her muzzle appeared in his view and deep sapphire eyes looked directly into his as a tear began to run down his cheek. "You remember the prophecy? The one Angela told me a long time ago?" he stifled a sob.
Her gaze softened, "One about long life, one for the betrayal in the family and one for…"
"…love," he finished. "I had a lot of time to think about it on the Talita… and I… realised I was charmed and blinded, being certain it was about her…" Tears began running down his cheek freely.
"Little One…" With a purr,she placed her muzzle on his shoulder, hoping it would help. Eragon grasped her neck tightly.
"I had chased her like a teenager who saw a pretty woman for the first time in his life…" His face twisted with self-contempt , "I recalled the times she rejected me, brought me to tears more than once… and yet…" He clenched his hands on the dragoness' scales.
"We were separated by decades of life… And… And only by the end of the war did we become true friends… I knew I'd leave so why was I so convinced that she was the One? Please tell me...?"
She crooned softly, "Our hearts can mislead us, Little One, and I experienced it myself… We may think we love someone, but we love how that person makes us feel, mostly, who fulfills our emotional… and physical needs…"
She pulled her head back a bit, hovering in front of his face. Saphira could feel warmth in her chest as she watched her distraught and trembling rider. Like by the snap of fingers, she leaned her muzzle forward as her tongue extended from her parted jaws. She ran her tongue over his jawline gently, switching from one side to another. The rider accepted her affection which was calming his nerves a little. The dragoness closed her eyes, and her purring got louder as she wrapped Eragon's mind with pure affection. The odd feeling in her lower abdomen appeared once again but Saphira didn't mind at all.
"The true love is the love of giving, when you invested yourself in someone entirely… not a love of receiving…" She swiped her tongue on his neck, followed by a nip on his jawline with a soft warble as she was looking deeply into his eyes.
The rider couldn't move a muscle while she was showing her strong affection toward him. A sudden swipe of her wet tongue sent shivers down his spine, making him gasp quietly. His tears stopped flowing when his mind focused on his partner-of-mind-and-heart entirely, and the warmth her soul provided. She pressed the tip of her muzzle to his forehead with her tongue slipping past her slightly parted jaws.
She hummed deeply, "However, you should remember we will live for a long time, my Little One… Do you remember what I told you once?" She paused, "Live in the present, remember the past, and fear not the future for it doesn't exist and never shall. There is only now."
Eragon listened to her soft voice with closed eyes, feeling each gentle stroke of her warm tongue. In the past, he would have been a bit irritated because saliva proved to be difficult to deal with, but now he couldn't care less. A soothing aura claimed his body and mind as he decided to do what she said, to live in the moment. The rider opened his eyes and began massaging her vulnerable place on her throat with steady strokes. Her purr intensified as she blended her mind with his more and more.
In the heat of the moment, Saphira curled her head back and swiped her tongue against his soft lips, making her Little One gasp. Then she nuzzled the crook of his neck, taking his scent in a steady breath.
"Do you feel better?" she spoke up again in a dreamy tone.
"I… do.." Eragon felt tiredness begin to claim his mind. "Thank you…"
"Everything for my Little One…" she crooned."Come here…" she nudged his cheek then leaned onto her side, curling her paw around his waist. Soon he was between the dragoness' paws, laying belly to belly.
"Let's rest," she ruffled his hair gently.
He felt the other warm paw pressing against his back, making sure he was safe in her grasp. A wing obscured the world around him as he released a deep breath. With one last grateful hug from Eragon, their minds melded fully and they both drifted off to sleep.
A/N:
Special thanks to my friends, Mark, Merc, and The Vilified for beta reading and support!
UPDATE 1st of September 2020.:
One eternity later… I uploaded edited version of the chapter that has fixed remaining grammar problems with Zelenal ( u/1999182/) help, big thanks for your work!
Have a nice day!