The night claimed the ruins of the old town fully; only the moon and fire lit the camp, casting shadows on walls covered by moss. By the side of the campfire, the dragoness and her rider were sleeping in a tender embrace, a sight which would melt even an ice-cold heart. The golden Eldunari and others kept the watch, letting them sleep after a day full of ups and downs.
Glaedr listened to the crackling of burning wood deep in thought, trying to solve a puzzle his students were a source of. It felt like in the old days back in Vroengard when he had to guide young riders and dragons alike to avoid making matters complicated within the Order. His train of thought turned to Umaroth as he released low hum.
The signs were too familiar to ignore, knowing it could be a source of something greater than anyone could have imagined, but also, it could be the beginning of a terrible fate. With caution, he decided to turn to his old friends and students from before the Order fell and ask their opinion about the matter at hand. He paused for a moment, feeling a bit flustered before he touched their minds. The Eldunari could put something in the motion, unsure how it would end. Glaedr's mind reached back to the sleeping pair, recalling the time they spent together. They were his students who determined the relations with them but, after so many things they went through together, they deserved the best. With a deep sigh, he touched the minds of Eldunari he was looking for.
"It has been a while," he said, his tone betraying his nervousness.
"Glaedr-elda!" the choir of four Eldunari replied in sheer joy, rushing to meet their old mentor.
"Hey, hey! I'm glad to talk to you again. I apologise for ignoring you for so long. As you could guess, I have been busy," he added in a sheepish tone.
"Don't worry, Glady. We are glad to hear from you again!" a white Eldunari, Lathine, replied playfully.
"Oh, not this again. The dragoness troublemaker." If he could, Glaedr would roll his eyes right then but his heart warmed up a bit anyway.
"If I recall correctly, you were fine with it," Lathine replied, giggling at her teacher's embarrassment.
"I do remember your words, Glaedr…" A dark blue Eldunari, Tinath, came to torment the old dragon in a teasing manner.
"Oh, with all of the males back then, you were the last I could expect to abuse your old master like that, Tinath," Glaedr replied, exaggerating.
"I have my moments…" said the quietest of all four.
"Yes, you do…" the melodic voice of Jenve, the black dragoness reached Tinath, surrounding him like a mist. Before he fell in love with… someone, it would send shivers down his spine. Even today, it had a similar effect, he realised.
"After so many years and you still do that, Jenve," he growled, feeling flustered.
"Of course… it was fun to see your blue scales turning purple. Sometimes, I only needed to walk in front of you…" If he had his body, his cheeks would burn from the heat. "But let's leave the fun for later. Where is our little precious friend?"
"Hello," the tiny and shy voice of a once copper dragoness reached everyone.
"Glad to hear from you again, Jiorva," Jenve said, changing her teasing attitude to full honesty and warmth. Glaedr could feel all of them embracing her mind with a tight hug.
"It's nice to see you guys again," she replied, feeling a bit calmer than she usually was.
"So, Elbrith, what is the matter? I can recognise that tone anywhere," Lathine said, deciding to go straight to the point. It was pleasant to see everyone again but she knew their teacher felt troubled.
"Well… It is about the pair over there. Eragon and Saphira have become especially close to one another lately; I dare to say more than a rider and a dragon pair usually were. I saw their devotion to each other, the way Saphira looked at her rider and how he was ready to ignore the moral code of elves… including the twelve words of death in order to get her something to eat after the accident all of you saw. I had my assumptions and I can tell they may be true."
He paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts, "Do you recall how dragons show strong affection to each other reserved for close friends or… mates?
A grunt escaped from all four Eldunari.
"Eragon was distraught this evening, thus Saphira tried to comfort him. She nibbled his jawline, licked his cheeks and neck… I could feel overwhelming affection with a hint of desire from her whenever the mental barrier let something slip through… From Eragon, I could feel burning love for her, too."
"Is it what I think it is, Master?" Jenve asked, growling softly.
"Yes. I think their platonic relationship will be something more soon. It could be the beginning of something great, as you all experienced in the past."
"Indeed…" Tinath chimed in, his voice nostalgic as he recalled his precious rider, Felicia, whom he was in love with. He growled sadly as a memory of her beautiful smile entered his mind.
"We all miss our loved ones, Tinath," Jenve sent her comforting thoughts to the dark blue Eldunari His rider was her best friend…
"True… So," he pushed the depressing thoughts back, "What should we do, Glaedr-elda?"
Before the golden dragon could speak up, the copper dragoness interrupted. "We would be guides to help them with their flourishing relationship… wouldn't we? Master Glaedr?" she added in a calm tone.
"Correct. If one pushes the other too far too quickly, their bond may suffer. Your mates were some of the best riders I had the honor to teach and fight side by side with against Galbatorix during our final stand. The interspecies relationships weren't common back then but also not unheard of. I ask you to help them realise whatever they feel is natural and that they shouldn't be ashamed of what they feel. "
"In the end, it does not matter if you wear scales or smooth skin…" Lathine finished, recalling what she had to do to win the heart of her rider.
"Umaroth-elda will not be pleased…" the worried tone of Jiorva spread across their private link, making all four dragons growl In agreement.
"He will have to accept it as he did in the past, young one," Glaedr added, feeling sympathy for the copper dragoness. He remembered how furious Umaroth was when he got to know Jiorva and Ernis were caught kissing in public. Defusing the situation took him a long, heated discussion with the elder dragon before he agreed to give them a punishment that wouldn't involve demotion or turning them out from the Order. He felt the brush of her mind in thanks for his words.
"How should we do it without making them feel uncomfortable? We have never talked with them before so it would sound out of place if we came and greeted them out of the blue," Tinath added in worry.
"Fair point, handsome," Jenve said, causing the blue male to sigh deeply, "maybe we should be part of their special training?"
"It could work, Jenve," Glaedr added, thinking about a different way to involve his friends.
"Have you ever told them about how the life of lower rank dragons and riders in the Order, Glaedr-elda?" Jiorva paused, hesitating, "I think… It may interest them a lot."
"No… we had so little time and so much to learn before they could face the egg-destroyer and win…"
"So, let's show and tell what it had been like in Vroengard when dragons ruled the sky!" Lathine said in a confident voice.
"Alright, alright, I see your determination to see a task done never left you," a heartful chuckle spread across their bond. "I will assign you in pairs to Eragon and Saphira. Jiorva and Lathine, you would talk with Saphira. Jenve and Tinath, you take Eragon. Just please, behave," he finished playfully. "I will let them know in the evening about the special training."
He heard confirmation from four Eldunari, then he paused for a moment as nostalgia came back to him. "It was a pleasure to hear from you again."
"Likewise, Master," all of them replied with sympathy for their old teacher.
….
The morning light shone through the holes in the ceiling as rays reflected on scales of the sapphire dragoness. She covered her head and her precious Little One with her wing, protecting themselves from the morning cold. Her tail swung lazily as she crooned quietly in her sleep. The dragoness didn't find the need to wake up, enjoying good rest for the first time in the recent week. Saphira curled her head down and, touching Eragon's hair as if she was trying to check if he was still there, she took his scent in a steady breath, the musk lulling her to sleep. The dragoness purred softly as her paws embraced the rider tightly.
Meanwhile, Eragon hugged her paw closer to his chest, feeling the other one pressing against his back. He had already woken up but still laid with her, enjoying the company of his dragoness. He rubbed his cheek into softer scales in slow strokes, his mind finding pleasure in their touch on the skin. The rider looked up when he felt Saphira ruffling his hair in sleep with her nose, he could hear her breath followed by a sweet purr. Eragon reached for her mind, finding it completely calm and relaxed; a grin appeared on his face as he realized his dragoness had gotten well-deserved rest at last.
His mind went back to the event from last night when he broke down in front of her. The pain stung his heart, recalling what he felt, but then his mind turned to what Saphira did for him. What she told him gave him hope, and maybe one day he would find peace with Arya. Then Eragon's thoughts wandered further as he closed his eyes.
He could feel the phantom lick of dragon tongue on his lips and a cheek, the soft nibbling on his jaws, that wet swipe on his neck which sent shivers down his spine, the strong but gentle presence of Saphira in his mind overwhelming him with care and love… Whenever he needed her, she was always on his side, whether it was putting up with his stubbornness and short-sightedness, or cheering him up whenever he was broken. Eragon had always seen her as his closest friend but now… he wasn't sure anymore.
He delved further in his memory, going back to what had occurred the previous morning. Her shapely legs and enticing… Blood flowed into his cheeks as pants got a little bit tighter. The rider, a bit shocked by his reaction, moved a bit to lay in a more comfortable position, thinking about the sudden outburst. His mind sought to wrap logic around the problem, but he couldn't find an answer he liked. With that defeat, he looked up to see her beautiful muzzle. He sighed deeply; yes, he found her attractive. But was it even possible? A dragon and a rider together? He began stroking her paws, trying to calm his nerves. The last thing he needed was to make Saphira uncomfortable around him; she had enough on her mind already. However, some part of him urged him to try at least, for it felt like an itch that would not be resolved any other way. He sighed deeply. Prophecies could be misleading, but Angela's would be fulfilled one way or another. What did he have to lose? With a gloomy mood, he pecked her scales longingly. 'I hope you are the one…' he whispered in a secluded part of his mind.
Eragon exhaled deeply then looked up, noticing her wing's membrane lighten up from the sun's rays. His mind wandered, thinking about what time it could be. Though he wished he could lay in her embrace forever, they still had things to do today. The rider brushed her mind in an attempt to wake her up gently.
"Saphira… We need to get going…" he grunted, feeling her grip get tighter than before. A short growl answered him instead; he knew she was awake as soon as he called her.
"Fine… Oh Queen of the Sky, wake up."
She wiggled her body to get more comfortable then pressed her nose into his hair. "Good morning, Little One," she said, letting out a soft purr, ruffling his hair again.
"Good morning… Did you sleep well?" He ran his hand up and down, massaging her forearm gently.
"Yes… It's been a long time since I got such a good rest…" She nuzzled his cheek.
The rider felt her mind embracing him with gratitude and love. She laid her head down and tried to hug him as best as she could. Her tail swung from side to side with no sign of agitation or anxiety. Saphira listened to sounds of the morning, feeling her rider massaging her paw. They both fell silent as they enjoyed one another's company but, some time later, the dragoness shifted a little bit before speaking up again.
"Isn't great, Eragon? To wake up without rush… to listen to birds sing?" She paused for a moment, "Laying side-by-side… together?" She placed emphasis on the last part.
The rider's mind was intrigued by her question, feeling the hope behind her words. "Yes, it is, my dear." He brushed his cheek on blue scales as she growled happily. "I could get used to it…"
"So then, will you sleep with me instead of going back to your bed on the Talita?" Her voice tried to contain her excitement. Eragon looked up, noticing her sapphire eyes staring at him. They expressed so many things: hope, concern, happiness.
"How could I refuse?" he replied, smiling sincerely. "Yes, I will. You know, before the Ra'zacs, I hoped that we could have had such a simple life where the only worry would be oversleeping."
Saphira darted her eyes around his friendly face as he replied. She could feel warmth in her belly, making her mind lose itself in joy and adoration. Without thinking, she leaned her muzzle forward and let her tongue lick his forehead lovingly.
"So did I, my Eragon." Her voice broke from emotions overwhelming her mind gradually. "Thank you…"
He hugged her as the dragoness nibbled his jaw gently, enjoying the simple caress. Then they both pulled back. Their breath was a bit faster from the experience they just shared. With their heartbeats returning to normal, Eragon looked deep into her mind, trying to read her expression. He still felt a pleasant warmth in his chest that urged him to go after what his heart wanted.
Saphira tilted her head, and watching her Little One frozen in place; she let out a short growl to snap him out of it. With a shake of his head, he went back to matters at hand. He smiled at her, blushing a bit.
"Well… it feels nice to lie here, but we have things to do." He scratched the scales on her nose but then Saphira tried to grab his hand in her jaws playfully. The rider giggled, trying to avoid getting caught; a bit of fun always made the morning better. But, at last, she grabbed him, satisfaction emitted from her mind across their bond.
"Mine." She gave him a toothy grin, her eyes were full of life and her tail swung in excitement behind her.
"Yes, yes… you won." He laughed at her antics. "Come on, we need to move our butts."
"Fine." She released his palm at last but, before he could pull it away, she licked it with a quick swipe of her tongue, letting him know she had the last word on the matter.
"Was that necessary?" he asked, looking at his hand covered with saliva.
"Yes!" Saphira thumped her tail on the ground, growling happily. Eragon shook his head but made no effort to hide his smile.
Saphira released her grip, letting him get up, then rolled carefully on her belly to avoid pushing her rider over accidentally. She looked back at her rider stretching his muscles, and quickly her gaze dropped to the ground. It could not have been very comfortable for him but he didn't utter any complaints. The dragoness was tempted to stretch fully too but the warehouse limited her quite a bit, so she got up slowly.
Soon, she was rolling her wings' shoulders, trying to warm them up. Maybe today she would be able to fly considering she no longer felt weak. Then her attention turned into her each limb which received the same treatment as her shoulders. Saphira closed her eyes humming, enjoying her body warming up gradually. After a moment, she felt someone's gaze on her, and Saphira snapped her eyes open and caught her Little One staring at her. She let out a soft growl as her instincts took control.
"Do you see something you like?" Her voice was like a mist spreading in his mind. The dragoness sat on her haunches trying to present herself from the best side. She curled her neck in an elegant curve, showing the side of her muzzle as her tail flipped gently on the ground. Her scales caught morning sun rays, making them shine like gems. Eragon stood there unable to turn away his gaze. Saphira felt great that he found her so captivating, giving her a much needed self-esteem boost. She licked her lips, locking eyes with him.
"I do…" he answered absentmindedly and, right after, his cheeks turned red as he dropped his gaze. "Sorry," he murmured out loud.
Saphira relaxed her pose then walked up to him softly. His mind was a mess from what she could feel in their bond.
"I am flattered. I really am, Little One, so don't worry." She nuzzled his cheek as she hummed softly. Eragon sent her thanks in relief; she was not offended by his antics. "So, what is the plan for today?"
"I guess we can check the building we saw yesterday and then you could try to fly. I still have to let Umaroth-elda know we are alive. You know how he is."
A rumble came out from her throat— a draconic laugh. "Yes, I do, and I cannot wait to feel the wind beneath my wings again. I feel better than yesterday."
He tapped her nose playfully. "I am looking forward to it. But first, I'll try to find some berries. Bread alone is too dry." He then walked away, leaving the dragoness inside the warehouse.
After a moment, Saphira walked up to the entrance of the warehouse and looked up, watching clouds in the sky. She sat comfortably, losing herself in her thoughts. Her mind went back to the previous evening, recalling every little detail and the emotions involved. It was unusual, special in some way, she thought. The dragoness saw her rider's distressed and hopeless expression, tears running down his face. A sting of pain appeared in her chest merely from thinking about it as she let out a sad whine. She knew words wouldn't have been enough to help him thus she listened to her heart. Saphira closed her eyes, letting memories flow through her mind. The feel of soft skin on her tongue, the deep purr coming out from her throat, nibbles on his jawline and… the draconic kiss that flicked across his lips. A shiver ran down the dragoness' spine, feeling that she was losing herself in fantasy but then she opened her eyes suddenly, her jaw opened in shock. It was not a fantasy, it was real and it felt good doing that with him.
Her mind went back to her previous debate about her unknown feelings toward her Little One. 'That was it…. This is how I wanted to find out if my heart told the truth… And this morning, I could not seem to help myself...' she thought, recalling how she showed herself off to Eragon. 'I did exactly the same with Glaedr-elda…' She began drawing lines in the dirt with her claw.
They had been together for better and for worse. She could rely on him every time and knew he would have moved a mountain if he had to for her. She had struggled to remain sane for so long… Saphira never wanted to bother him with her own problems, thus she remained quiet, but the fact of how much he cared gave her peace. She crooned softly, recalling their little game from this morning. She didn't remember the last time she played like that— maybe when she was just a hatchling. The world was simpler and safer back then; only her rider and she mattered. Saphira felt like her heart swelled from emotions thinking about moments she spent with him as the warmth began to spread through her entire body.
Her thoughts wandered to their bath at the lake and the little accident. She growled in surprise, realising there was no embarrassment from what happened anymore. Instead, her heartbeat and breath became a little faster. The dragoness' tail swung from side to side, agitated, as she wiggled her rump subconsciously.
Then Saphira recalled his strong arms holding her when she felt so worthless and defeated. She took a shaky breath as the memory of his scent entered her mind. There was no one else who could make her feel as safe and valued. The dragoness believed elves looked at her with insincere admiration; they may pretend otherwise but they see her as… a god. Eragon, on the other hand…
Her muscles began trembling; her mind looked like a raging storm and she felt like her chest was about to burst open. She stifled a sob in her throat making it sound like a grunt. Saphira snapped her head forward, eyes darting around in realization.
'I love Eragon.' Then all negative thoughts were washed away from her mind. 'More than as my rider…' She closed eyes, focusing on her beating heart, feeling it calm down gradually.
'I love my rider…' she whispered softly, testing the words in her mind. Saphira felt no remorse nor doubt saying that as her breath went back to normal. She opened her eyes, the songs of birds, the quiet rustle of trees, and the smell of the forest came back to her senses. Her mind was closed off to the entire world. The dragoness still felt a soothing warmth in her chest as she took one breath after another.
Maybe they were meant to be together and other things were just a distraction. The memory of the green dragon and his deep voice appeared in her mind. She let out a growl, letting her wings drop a bit as a wave of sorrow and shame flowed through her heart. 'Saphira… you were so blind back then…' she said, shaking her head.
The dragoness curled her tail around herself in a comforting manner. Would it not harm their bond if… he didn't see her in a similar manner? How would she find out if he felt her in the same way as she did him? Was it even right to love a human that way? What would Umaroth and Glaedr think about it? She began breathing faster during the mental debate, and anxiety started to affect her whole being.
She felt as though her mind was like a labyrinth where she tried to find the right path helplessly. 'Should I court him?' That one question resounded in her soul loudly, and her heart skipped a beat. 'Then I will know if we can be together or… not...' She shivered, thinking what if it may be a mistake in the end.
Saphira released a long held breath. 'Well… Eragon admires my appearance already more than he is willing to admit,' she hummed in thought. It was an encouraging sign; it was one thing all males regardless of species had in common.
She looked back into her memory recalling dragon courtship, going back to Glaedr and Firnen. Razor-sharp teeth were exposed in her jaw as she felt a spark of anger for her shortsighted decisions back then. She had a feeling these memories would haunt her for the rest of her life. She promptly rejected the idea of using the same tactics on her Little One, for it would only scare him off.
Her mind went deeper through her memories, recalling interactions between a human male and a female. She grunted, recalling Eragon's cousin making love with Katrina, then she carried on. However, she found only vague things that weren't really helpful. Saphira looked down, cursing her ignorance as her claws dug in the ground. Her gaze snapped to her paws suddenly; she lifted one in the air and turned it to expose its inner side. One detail she managed to spot.
'It seems human pairs touch each other quite a lot…' The hint let her focus on other events to test that theory. She went back to a meeting between Nasauda and noble families. The Queen never let others touch her unless they were people who she trusted. Eragon was reluctant to invade someone else's personal space he didn't know. Then Saphira went back to Roran and Katrina, she remembered them holding hands, embracing or kissing one another. The dragoness hummed deeply. 'Well… I do that already and it seems Eragon likes it…' She recalled his gasps when she licked his neck and lips. 'Hmm… It felt so right…' She released a low growl, closing her eyes as she gave in to her fantasy.
Burning sensations began to spread in her lower abdomen, affecting her mind and body. Her imagination went further, seeing herself going lower than his neck, panting fast, his soft skin yielding under the pressure of her tongue as his scent teased her with each breath. The feeling of his hands massaging her muzzle… She put her paw back on the ground as a croon full of desire left her jaws. The dragoness wiggled in place as her genital folds began to moisten, spreading her fragrant scent in the air. She couldn't help but grind her rump on the floor which sent an electric jolt through her entire body.
'Ah!' She opened her eyes slowly, desire still clouding her mind, but she remained still, enjoying pulsing warmth at her groin. 'Maybe, I should show myself from a… different angle to him…' She moved her rump back and forth as a toothy grin appeared on her muzzle. She hummed deeply in thought.
After some time, the heat her groin disappeared and the logical part of mind took control once again. She jolted her head in realisation. 'I just… fantasized about Eragon…' she gulped. 'And liked it…'
If she reacted that strongly then what if she wouldn't be able to control herself? Worry spread across her mind, making her wiggle in place. 'No, I won't make the same foolish mistake,' she recalled how meeting with Firnen reduced her mind to instincts. She would handle Eragon with utmost care if they ever tried something really intimate. The dragoness heart skipped a beat at the last thought.
Speaking of which, she felt Eragon coming back with a really happy spirit; she shook her head sharply in an effort to clear her mind before opening herself to him in their bond completely.
The rider appeared behind the corner, looking up at her. She curled her mouth, smiling the best way she could, her eyes sparkling with joy.
"There you are. A bit longer and I would have come and carried you back like a hatchling," she hummed.
"Oh, I haven't been away that long." He smiled at her but suddenly the rider paused, smelling the unknown scent in the air. It was like the aroma of flowers and earth mixed together. She growled in question as he walked up to her, touching her scales. A shiver ran down her body from his touch.
"Are you alright?" he asked worriedly.
"Yes, I'm fine, Little One." She nuzzled his cheek. His nose caught more of a pleasant aroma as he took a deep breath, confirming his suspicion it was coming from his dragoness.
"I know it sounds strange but… you smell nice."
She chuckled in their bond, "Thank you." She then bumped his arm playfully. "Well, what did you find?" She eyed his hands holding various fruits.
"Some blueberries, raspberries… you know, anything to spice up dry bread." She was glad Eragon didn't figure out the reason for her new scent.
"Hurry up and eat so we can carry on," Saphira said, nuzzling his cheek tenderly and letting out a soft purr.
….
Eragon let out a pleased sigh as he leaned on Saphira's front leg. He heard his dragoness humming a melody he couldn't recognise but there was nothing bad about it. After a moment, her left wing lowered a bit to hold him on his side; he instinctively reached out to massage it in slow circles. The rider felt his heart swell in happiness as he shared a moment of intimacy with his Saphira, then he locked his gaze on her muzzle swaying in tune of the melody she sang.
The rider didn't know what was happening to him but he felt the soothing buzz in his head just from listening to her. Eragon went back to his earlier dilemma about their relationship as he closed some part of his mind to think in private and continued massaging her scales. Here he was leaning on someone he would die for, who was by his side for better and worse. And yet there was still a barrier between them: he was a human, she was a dragon.
'But… does it really matter?' he whispered in his mind. There were many obstacles he had to overcome in the past which tested his morals and sanity. He was afraid of what others might think about what his heart wanted but he was more afraid she would not return his feelings. He knew how prideful dragons were but she was his Saphira. Subconsciously, Eragon knew he couldn't stand for his dragoness to be with someone else. It would have eaten him from inside eventually.
'So… what should I do?' he sighed deeply. It was one thing to court a woman, quite another to court a fire breathing dragoness. Eragon rubbed his hand deep in thought. Well, it seemed she liked the idea of "little" gifts; his mind brought up the deer he got for her yesterday and her comment about letting him hunt for her more often. A faint smile appeared on his face, knowing that was something to start from. She also enjoyed his pampering a lot but he realised the key to her heart was solving what troubles her and to show he cared about her deeply.
He paused for a moment, looking ahead to see the town ruins in daylight. Then his memories took him back to the Talita when he read scrolls in an effort to figure out Saphira's condition. Now, he knew even without them what she was going through since they left Alagaësia, so there was no need to read them but… Suddenly, an idea formed in his mind. As he recalled, they should have contained all knowledge about dragons. Maybe they contained information about dragon courting habits. He blushed slightly as a memory of Saphira's feelings during mating flight with Firnen entered his mind. 'Well, I can't fly, obviously, but there must be something I can do, too…'
Eragon realised he spent a bit too much time dwelling on this; they still had a few things to do like getting back to the Talita. He pushed himself from Saphira's paw, making her stop humming; he swore there was a sigh of disappointment from her mind.
Then she curled her head down as her sapphire orbs stared at him like they were going to pierce his soul, making him freeze in place. He saw her nostrils widen in each breath but then she softened her gaze, flooding his mind with strong affection. He took a deep breath and felt her tender embrace on his soul, barely registering the lick on his cheek.
They both stared into each other's eyes for a long moment until Eragon was snapped out from trance as she smirked at him, arching her neck back in an elegant curve.
"You were staring at me again, my Little One." He felt glee emanating from her mind, and his cheeks flushed. She leaned her muzzle next to his ear. "I don't mind it…" she whispered, slipping in a seductive tone with each word. Eragon's eyes widened hearing her enticing voice.
"Ah... you're welcome?" He fumbled with his words.
"Mhmm…" She flicked her tongue over his neck then, in a sudden realisation that she might have pushed him a bit too far, she spoke up.
"You are so fun to tease, Eragon," she said, grinning widely.
"Oh, you little devil." He pushed her muzzle away without ill intent as she laughed in his mind.
"Sorry, I could not stop myself… But really, I do not mind you staring at me." Eragon tilted his head in confusion before speaking up.
"I thought it was rude…"
"In general, it is but we are not strangers, are we?" she added in a calming tone.
"Yeah…"
"So, don't overthink it, my Little One. It only makes me feel… special." She let the last part slip from her tongue.
"Alright…" He locked his gaze for a moment, trying to read her muzzle as her emotions swirled across their bond.
"Let's move on, I want to check that building before we leave. But first, I'll let Umaroth know we are fine." Then he walked back inside as Saphira's gaze followed him in silence.
…
As they predicted, the conversation with Umaroth-elda wasn't pleasant and they could feel the irritation in his voice as he asked simple questions, urging them to come back as fast as possible. Saphira pawed the ground while they were talking; her fragile self-confidence was tested under a firm tone of the old master. At one point, Eragon embraced her mind when he figured out she was not handling the situation well. She let out a quiet croon in thanks.
They were given a few hours to find out what they could about the town's past but then they had to move on. Once again, Glaedr promised he would keep an eye on them, trying to soothe Umaroth's worries. At last, Eragon released a scrying spell and got up from the ground.
"Well… We should deal with this as soon as possible. Umaroth-elda's patience is getting thin."
"I'm sorry…" Saphira whined sadly, feeling guilt for the situation they ended up in.
"It was just an accident, youngling," Glaedr spoke in a warm tone.
"Yes… I know." She dropped her head but then gave Eragon a hopeful look as she waited for his response.
He walked up to her, moving the dragoness' muzzle up. "No one blames you for what happened." He pecked her nose.
Saphira's tail shuddered sharply, feeling his soft lips on her scales, but she calmed down at last.
The rider looked back into the warehouse, making sure nothing was left there. He scanned the room carefully and, after a moment, looked at the office he found yesterday. Without a word, he walked back inside.
"Little One?"
"I want to quickly check something there." He heard her paws hitting the ground as she followed him.
He climbed through the window frame and soon he was inside the room. To his disappointment, there wasn't anything worth checking inside. The remnants of a desk only proved that time had really left its mark on this place. After a moment, Eragon went through the window back into the main part of the building.
"There was nothing there. Let's go to the building we saw yesterday," he said, sending her mental image of the place. She grunted in confirmation.
In daylight, the pair could see the whole market of the town in detail. The contrast between the ruins and the trees marking the border of the plaza made the scenery unusual to their eyes. They could spot a fountain in the middle of the town square— or what was left of it. As they walked past it, Saphira made a mental note that there was enough space nearby it to take off later.
After a few minutes, they reached the most preserved building which sparked the rider's interest the previous afternoon. Now he could see the brown color of the front wall clearly in the daylight and the many deep gashes on it. The scars made it look like there was a spider web hanging on a wall; the biggest amount of them was beside the window frames. His hand moved to the hilt of his sword instinctively as Saphira began scenting the air around them. He slowly touched the scar and ran his fingers inside it.
"It's at least two or three inches deep…" he said, looking back at Saphira who also gave the scars a look. She extended her tongue, trying to judge depth on her own.
"I do not know what could leave such marks…" Suddenly, she moved alongside the wall and smacked it with her claws. The sting of pain spread into Eragon's mind from her action. "Ah! It's never pleasant but this…" she complained, rolling her paw to soothe the pain. "It couldn't have been the dragon's job, I'm sure…"
"Do you need help?"Eragon rushed to her side.
"No, it's fine, Little One, but thank you," she hummed soothingly.
Eragon looked at marks she left on the wall and checked their depth; only one inch deep.
"Any ideas, Glaedr-elda?"
"Hmm… perhaps a Kull? They have the strength to leave such marks, but I don't think they would have done such a pointless thing. They would still need to use weapons or tools… and it would be pointless to damage a blade considering they could just bust through the door…" he let out a deep hum. "Go inside, but proceed with caution."
"I'll wait outside. Be careful." Saphira's heart skipped a beat. Eragon scratched her nose in an attempt to calm her nerves but then she gave him a tender lick on his hand, growling in concern. She hated it when he wasn't by her side in dangerous places. Finally, she pulled back, giving him some room.
"Here goes nothing," Eragon said and took the first step inside.
He walked through a narrow corridor, placing his feet carefully. The walls were covered by dirt and moss but he could still spot paint here and there. He looked to the left, spotting a room similar in size to the one in the warehouse. 'Maybe it is another office,' he thought. The rider gave it a look inside but there was nothing that caught his attention, so he continued, going further inside the building.
Soon, the corridor opened up to the large hall which was big enough for Saphira to fit inside and stand comfortably. On both sides, there were wide arches supporting the first floor which also served as the entrance to other parts of the building. In front of him, the wide stairs made of granite led to the upper floor. Eragon looked higher and noticed elegant columns and reliefs through the ivy growing in the hall. Even ruined as it was, it was a sight to behold. It seemed to him the building had not belonged to royalty.
"Maybe it used to be a town hall?" the rider sent his thoughts to Saphira and Glaedr.
"Hmm… I could have been. If so, you may find some documents if time did not destroy them completely," Glaedr chimed it.
Eragon began climbing the stairs slowly, trying to guess if they could still hold his weight. As he reached the top, he saw a ten-foot-tall door at the end of another narrow corridor in front of him. He looked to his sides, noticing other columns and relics decorating walls. It was meant to impress any guests in this place before they went to other rooms. The rider turned to the door far in front of him. It must be important.
After a moment, he stood next to the large door. It was only then he noticed quite familiar flower-themed decorations typical for elven architecture. Did it mean elves used to live here, too? The same deep scars from outside were present. What did that? He put the thought aside and focused on the task at hand. Eragon tried to push the door open using the handle but it didn't budge at all. He closed his eyes, extending his mind forward. Soon, he detected a powerful spell protecting the entrance which didn't allow him to see what was inside. A simple break spell wouldn't work but, thankfully, he knew the Word. As it left his mouth, the protective ward disappeared, granting him access. He moved with his mind inside, trying to spot living creatures or traps left by the last owners of this place. Thankfully, it was safe to enter.
With a mighty push, he managed to open the heavy door, the loud screech of metal filling the town hall in protest. Even with his extraordinary strength, Eragon felt the ache in his muscles, his breath faster from the effort. After a moment, he stepped inside, keeping his sword drawn.
In the middle of the room, he could see a damaged round table surrounded by fragments of wood that must have been chairs. He moved forward, looking around the room and noticing detailed decorations similar to those in the main hall but better preserved. Then his eyes moved lower and froze in their tracks. Skeletons were positioned along the walls. As he got closer, he noticed they lacked many bones; some were scattered around the room, too. He crouched next to one and looked at the chest cavity with its ribs crushed completely. He moved his gaze down toward leg bones, noticing a big hole in a femur. Then he spotted the same deep scars on the stone floor like outside the building and at the door he went through.
Eragon and his companions remained silent, trying to digest what happened here. The rider darted his eyes around the room, taking in more details of the slaughter scene. Rusted swords and shields laid next to a few skeletons; those must have been soldiers. Others didn't have any weapons next to them, hinting that they might have been townsfolk or landlords.
"Glaedr… I.. think some creatures did this… I fear to imagine what happened once they went inside this room full of people…" Ashudder ran down his spine as he clenched the hilt of his sword tighter. Saphira also got more and more anxious with every second.
"You are right, even Kulls are not that brutal… and…" Glaedr fell silent.
"Yes… Elbrith?" Saphira asked with a shaky breath.
He growled sharply, "This room was sealed off with wards, so how did these creatures get inside?"
Suddenly, a clatter resounded in front of him to the right. Eragon turned his gaze to the opposite side of the door he used to go in and his jaw dropped.
He could see another door frame but this one was heavily damaged; the hinges were ripped from the frame and they hung on twisted metal. The door leafs laid on the floor covered by debris.
"Why would they put a ward on the one entrance, but not the other?" Eragon wondered aloud.
"Well… I am sure they did but it failed. The ward can be disabled by brute force but I can't imagine the force needed to do that… Even a dragon would not be able to do it… So, unless the creatures had a magic caster that controlled them… I…" Glaedr fumbled with words as Eragon got up slowly, feeling a cold sweat on his back. "There is a chance they could break the ward with their own mind…"
"…and then kicked the door off of the frame," Eragon finished. He quickly walked up to it then slowed down, taking steps careful with all senses on an alert. It was another room but smaller than the one he just left. Like before, signs of a vicious battle were everywhere; rusted weapons, fragments of skeletons, and deep scars on every surface where claws did the fatal blow. The rider looked ahead, spotting another destroyed door.
"I guess these creatures came from there…" A grunt of both dragons confirmed his suspicion. What caught his attention was the remains of several boxes lying next to the door. Eragon hummed in thought, thinking that it must have been a desperate attempt to strengthen the door that didn't work. Many of the containers were smashed to pieces.
But then Eragon looked to the left, noticing something unusual in the corner of the room.
"Huh… I haven't seen anything like this before," he spoke, feeling Saphira's curiosity spark too.
The metal of the locker shone like it was new; there was no mark of rust. It was unusual for, according to what they saw, the town must have been in ruins for decades or even longer. The rider didn't spot any handle to open it, only a rectangular pit where he could spot narrow slits. He reached out a hand to grab a dimple he saw at the side of the pit and pulled but the door didn't budge.
"Hmm…" He closed his eyes and spread his mind into the lock, feeling the mechanism that kept the door closed.
"It was not made by any smith from Alagaësia. I saw locks in many towns but none of them were that small… However, this should do the trick," he stepped back and sheathed his sword.
"Jierda!" Instead of targeting the lock, he focused on the hinges. The metal groaned in protest but then the door started falling from the frame. Eragon grabbed it before it hit the ground, then placed on the wall next to him.
He looked inside, finding a pile of books filled the locker. Eragon reached out to grab one of them carefully.
"Be careful! These documents must be decades old; we don't want to damage them!" Glaedr growled in panic, causing the rider to stop in his tracks.
He thought for a moment and said, "Sköliro!" casting a weak spell over books to protect them from damage, then grabbed them finally. The rider looked at them from each side, feeling the subtle push of the barrier protecting the fragile books. They were quite heavy in his hands thanks to the leather cover decorated with flower themes. On a first look, it seemed decorations were typical of elven artstyle, impling who lived in this town but he wasn't entirely sure. Goods could have been delivered here and elves never built towns like this one. Maybe humans and elves lived here in harmony a long time ago, he thought. However, nothing was certain without reading those books. His hand moved to open them carefully.
Suddenly, another clatter made him gasp in surprise, turning his body toward the source of the sound.
"Eragon… let's leave this place," Saphira spoke in a worrying tone and sent him a picture of her walking back and forth outside the building.
"On my way!" He spun around and began trotting towards the entrance, his steps faster with every yard.
He heard another clatter to his side as he made it into the main hall. The rider checked the nearby area with the mind but didn't feel any big life presence around him. Eragon's heart skipped a beat, slowly giving in panic.
"Hurry up!" he heard Saphira's low growl in the distance.
At that point, he ran toward the exit where the dragoness laid down to allow him to mount her quickly. Her muscles tensed to make a fast dash to take off. Another clatter behind him.
He shot out from the building, unfastening the sword sheath from his belt. With sheath in hand, he put it in a holster on her saddle, then he mounted her in a few seconds. He strapped his legs quickly, his mind screaming there was no time to lose.
"Go!" Saphira launched herself with such force that he was pushed back in the saddle. She sprinted toward the market where there was enough space to take off. With a grunt, she pushed herself into the air and flapped her wings hard, feeling the burn in her muscles but she kept going. Soon, they were climbing the sky at a rapid pace.
Saphira turned around, making a wide loop around the town hall ruins and focused her mind on it. She went through the thick walls, going deeper and deeper into the building but, to her surprise, she found nothing. It was empty, so why did they both feel mortal danger all of a sudden? Meanwhile, Eragon was doing the same and came to a similar conclusion. Adrenaline still flowed through his veins after such a frightening moment, finding it difficult to calm his nerves.
Suddenly, the dragoness felt a dull pressure in her head, making her lose vision for a moment. She kept flying but a sting of fear spread in her mind and thus she reached to her Little One. Saphira skipped a wing beat and curled her head behind carefully; Eragon looked at her for a moment and then confusion on his face turned into panic. He opened his mouth but she didn't hear anything; the dragoness saw that he was shouting but there was silence. Without a thought, she turned south sharply and flapped her wings faster and faster, putting the town behind them. Her mind was in complete chaos as she kept trying to contact Eragon or one of Eldunari but there was no answer. She let out choking snarl and pushed herself harder to fly faster, to get away from that cursed place.
Only after a few miles, the dull pressure disappeared and she slowed down momentarily, panting hard. She curled her head to the side, noticing her Little One attempt to contact her.
"Eragon!" Thedraconic scream caught him off guard and he felt her mind intertwine with his. He gasped, feeling her panic, anxiety, and the relief that she could finally hear him.
"Saphira, are you alright?! I couldn't hear your thoughts!"
"Neither could I yours!" she whined in distress. "I felt a dull pressure around my mind and I lost my eyesight for a moment… Then..." she shuddered under him, "I wasn't able to reach nor hear you, my Little One!"
"Thank the gods you're back… What happened there?!" Eragon looked back over his shoulder to where the Eldunari were.
"I couldn't reach Saphira either, nor the other Eldunari," Glaedr's voice betrayed that he was deeply shaken by this situation. "It seems like some kind of mental attack which was supposed to isolate you two, deny one of the advantages you have: your bond."
"No mage could hide his presence from us…" Eragon paused. "Wait… No way…"
Saphira knew what he had in mind.
"Little One, we already encountered creatures who specialised in mental attacks…" she began in a distant voice.
"Fanghurs…" they both spoke.
"We didn't see any in the air and they can't be missed because of their size… It must have been something smaller that can move on the ground, something even the old Dragon Order hadn't encountered…" Glaedr hummed low. "We must go back to the Talita immediately and warn others. Now I am sure whatever creature or creatures attacked Saphira were able to wipe out that town…"
Eragon and Saphira's eyes met in silence as both minds held one another. They realised that fate called for them once again.
….
The pair located the river late in the afternoon after a few hours of flying in silence, trying to spot the ship on the water surface. Thanks to Saphira's better sight, they noticed the Talita anchored near the bank of Edda river. Saphira roared in joy, announcing their arrival, before spotting a small clearing near the tree line ideal for landing as the elves ran around in haste. She began to descend with wide loops above the river, reducing their velocity and altitude, then she turned straight toward the clearing that had been prepared for her landing. She swooped above the Talita, and upon hearing the cheerful greeting of their elven friends, she roared in response. Right before she reached the landing point, she raised her chest, letting her lower body fall, and began flapping wings harder to hover in the air. A gust of wind created a cloud of dirt nearby as the elves protected their eyes. Then her hind feet touched the ground and she let her front paws take the rest of the impact. They were back at last.
Eragon let himself fall forward on her neck, sighing deeply, then wrapped his arms around her neck, giving her a tight squeeze.
"Little One?" She curled her head towards him with worry in her tone.
"I'm fine… just… I'm glad we made it." He removed his arms from her neck reluctantly.
She hummed softly, hugging his mind in exchange. How she wished she could have hugged him back with her own paws.
"Shadeslayer! Bjartskular!" The sudden shouts snapped them out of the intimate moment, their gazes shifting to their fury friend. "You are back finally."
"We are glad to see you too, Blodgharm!" the pair replied.
"Just let me get off of this saddle first," Eragon added as Saphira lowered herself on the ground. He unfastened the straps from his legs, letting them rest for a second, then he slowly raised himself and slid from on the left side. He grunted, feeling a dull ache in his legs, the momentum pushed him forward, causing him to lose his balance.
"Ah!"
"I've got you…" A warm voice entered his mind as a wing stopped him from falling. He turned his head to the side, noticing Saphira looking at him with gentle eyes. She carefully raised her wing, allowing him to regain his footing as blood began to flow in his legs as it should. "Are you alright?" she asked.
"Yes, thank you." She purred quietly and brushed her wing over his chest tenderly before pulling it away.
"I see the trip exhausted you, Shadeslayer," Blodgharm began.
"To put it mildly. I need to speak with Umaroth-elda and the rest of the elves immediately."
"I am listening," the deep voice of his Master resounded in his mind as the others gathered around the pair.
With a deep sigh, the rider began. "We found a road leading to the ruins of a town deep in the forest. The town looked like it was destroyed during a big battle; there were only fragments of houses near defensive walls like someone or something leveled them. It must have happened decades ago because the entire area was overgrown by the forest to the point we would have never spotted it from the air." The elves listened carefully.
"That's not the main concern, though. I explored what looked like a town hall near the main square. I found a room sealed off by a protection ward. After I managed to disable it, I went inside…" He felt Saphira walk up behind him as he spoke, then smooth scales of her shoulder touched his back.
"I found skeletons lying everywhere on the floor. Some bones were crushed beyond recognition or were sprawled on the floor. Then I noticed deep scratches on the floor in many of the areas where those people died. The same marks we spotted at the main entrance of the building…"
Then Saphira chimed in. "They were deeper than the mark I left on the same wall. There were so many of them that it looked like a spider web… We believe it didn't come from a dragon nor any other creature we know of."
Eragon nodded and continued from there. "We came to the conclusion that whatever attacked the town hall must have broken the protection wards and went inside, slaughtering everyone there. Later, we found the path they broke through…" The rider went up to saddle, pulling out the notebooks he found in the metal locker.
"When I found this, I heard clatter coming from inside of the building. As I was running back I could hear it coming closer. We knew we were not alone."
Saphira chimed in. "We took off as quickly as possible. Then I felt a dull pressure around my mind, lost my vision for a moment, then I couldn't hear Eragon anymore." She let out a distressed growl. "Only after we flew further away I could hear him again…" She shared her memory with everyone, she felt uneasy by doing that but everyone had to experience it.
"We believe that we encountered a type of predator that uses mind attacks to hunt their prey similarly to Fanghurs. However, we were not able to sense the presence of the creature or creatures with our minds at all," Glaedr added worryingly.
Eragon could see every elf tensed at that detail. A creature that used a mind attack and couldn't be detected with magic? It was a terrifying thought.
"… I think those 'things' wiped out the town," the golden Eldunarii finished.
Everyone stood in silence for a moment, digesting the news. Eragon felt his dragoness' paw wrapping around his midsection, holding him gently. He placed his hand on top of it, brushing it with slow strokes.
"No one moves around alone," Umaroth began, "Only in pairs or with three people groups. Eragon and Saphira, you are not allowed to leave the immediate vicinity of the Talita. Understood?" The pair agreed without complaint. "The rest of you will pack everything and put it back on the Talita as soon as possible."
"Yes, Elbrith," all the elves replied at once.
"Meanwhile, I will think about how to deal with these creatures. You are all dismissed," he finished like a general addressing his soldiers.
Eragon watched elves going back to their tasks quickly, packing whatever equipment they brought here. Most of it consisted of tables, tents, and various crates placed around the area. His gaze turned to one of the tables, noticing several sheets of paper and various instruments used for cartography. It seemed they were not lounging around when he and Saphira were away. With that thought, he made a mental note to share where the ruins of the town were with their cartographer. Despite the hurry, the elves continued packing the camp with the typical grace of their kind. If they were humans, he would already be hearing swears left and right from people trying to hurry one another up. It seemed they'd put all of this on a small boat to take it back to the Talita. He was tempted to offer help but the stress of the earlier incident had tired him out significantly. Suddenly, he was snapped out of his thoughts as the voice of the golden Eldunari resounded in the bond.
"Eragon, Saphira," Glaedr began, catching their attention, "I'm discussing with the other elder Eldunari how to tackle the new threat. Meanwhile, four of my friends will contact you soon to start a different kind of training I had planned some time ago. I have assigned two to each of you. Please, listen to what they have to say."
"Yes, Elbrith," they replied emotionlessly as Glaedr withdrew from their minds. What the new training he came up with, Eragon wondered.
Shaking those thoughts aside, he turned his attention back to the one who still held him in her embrace. Saphira rocked him gently, moving her paw up and down slowly and in a comforting manner. He looked up at her, observing the sway on her muzzle as she kept an eye on what was going on around them in silence. The rider looked down and began rubbing her paw to calm his nerves. After a moment, she reacted.
"Little One?" She curled her beautiful muzzle toward him, her voice betraying concern.
Absentmindedly, he cupped her muzzle, rubbing it gently with his thumb as she looked into his eyes and lingered at the border of his mind like she was afraid to enter. His sad eyes locked with her worried ones, then he grabbed her soul without warning. Her eyes widened suddenly but then relaxed, feeling her Little One in her mind.
"Saphira…" He left her grasp and wrapped his arms around her neck, putting her muzzle on his shoulder. His mind was a storm of emotions: happiness, worry, and hope. The dragoness felt something deeply troubled her Little One but she didn't want to put pressure on him, even though her draconic inquisitiveness tempted her to do so. He clenched his arms tighter around her neck like he was afraid that, if he let go, she would be gone.
"My Little One…" she spoke sweetly in his mind as she began nuzzling his neck tenderly, "Everything will be fine…" The dragoness pulled back a little, allowing her to lick his neck with gentle strokes.
She felt his mind devolve into chaos with the last gesture, making her stop in her tracks momentarily. The rider was at the edge of giving in or pushing her away as his emotions began to boil; he couldn't control it at all. He hesitated, worrying that feelings he wasn't entirely sure of himself would slip into her mind. Suddenly, he released her neck and walked away trying to find something to do to calm his nerves.
Saphira's heart clenched as he pushed her away. Her wings dropped loosely to her sides, and words were stuck in her mind as she felt iron walls forming around him. The dragoness let out a sad whimper as she curled her tail around herself for comfort. Her ears tracked his steps, knowing that he decided to help elves pack the camp and she was here, alone again.
After a moment, she felt pressure around her mind and was about to raise all her mental barriers clumsily, but it came from her Eragon, though it wasn't him. She realised it must be one or two Eldunari that Glaedr mentioned. Unsure how to address them, she spoke up.
"Greetings…"
"Hello, Saphira Brightscales. I am Lathine and here is…" the white Eldunari began with enthusiasm.
"Jiorva…" a shy voice resounded in Saphira's mind. "Hello," the copper Eldunari came out from her hiding spot. The blue dragoness tilted her muzzle with a bit of confusion at hearing such casual greetings.
"Pleasure to meet you. Is there something you wish to discuss?"
"Yesterday, Master Glaedr assigned us and two other Eldunari to tell you about the normal life of riders and dragons in the old Order…" Saphira got even more confused. "I feel your confusion, Saphira, but let me finish," Lathine said.
"Glaedr-elda deemed it important to give you and your rider lessons about these matters to help you organise the new Order easier when the time came," Jiorva finished with her quiet voice.
"So, that is the training Glaedr-elda mentioned… Why do you bring it up now?" Saphira felt quite lost at this moment between the new task at hand and the problem between her and her Little One.
"Well, we thought it would help take your mind off the new problem while Glady is busy with Umaroth-elda discussing what you discovered there…" Her energetic voice paused "Oops…"
Saphira's jaw dropped hearing the name the Eldunari used.
"Forgive my friend, it was just a playful nickname we gave to Glaedr-elda when he used to train us. We were good friends," Jiorva tried to save the situation with an embarrassed tone in her voice.
"I see…" the blue dragoness paused, feeling the tension across the bond. "You said, 'we.' Were there only two of you?" Her interest started to emerge.
"There were eight of us: me, Jiorva, Jenve, and Tinath and our riders; Cayle, Ernis, Yorvik, Felicia respectively," Lathine added in happy hum.
"Where are Jenve and Tinath then?" Saphira's tail swished to sides as she observed the steady progress on packing the camp.
"They're probably speaking with your Eragon at this moment," the white Eldunari replied. At the mention of his name, Saphira clenched her eyes tightly, taking a sharp breath. Noticing her reaction, Lathine felt sympathy for the blue dragoness, recalling her own rocky moments with her rider.
"Go to him," Jiorva said in her unusual firm voice, making Lathine gasp. "Don't talk, just act. Show him you are interested…" With the last word, she withdrew from their conversation. Saphira pulled her neck back in shock.
"What are you talking about?!" a growl slipped through Saphira's jaws.
The copper Eldunari hesitated to reply at first as though she was afraid. "We've seen how he acts around you; believe me when I say he will not hold it against you."
Saphira snapped her eyes toward her rider. He was carrying a large box toward a small boat with a few other elves.
"But… we shouldn't be…" She pawed dirt, unsure.
"Go on, he won't bite," Lathine said warmly. "Good luck!" And she was gone.
…
While Saphira was speaking with the two female Eldunari, Eragon busied himself with packing and carrying boxes to the boat. The elves proved to be quite efficient at work, and everyone knew what needed to be done without any questions. He worked in silence with them, trying to not pay attention to his brooding dragoness nearby.
He lifted one of the heavier crates filled with maps and notes that the Elves had made along their journey to collect any information about the region. His eyes glimpsed at the dragoness who was visibly tense, with her tail curled around herself in a clear sign of distress. Him and his lack of confidence… Ironic; the rider knew what to do regarding dealing with various enemies but, with matters of the heart, he was as clueless as a child. He turned his gaze away, walking past her. A deep sigh left his lips.
Eragon reached the boat at last and placed the box in carefully. The elves began the trip back to the camp but he decided to walk away a bit from the spot to think alone among the trees. Carefully, he sat at the bank of the river, looking far ahead of him toward the calm waters deep in thought. Doubts about him and Saphira becoming more than a rider and a dragon began to fill his mind. He grabbed a flat rock and tossed it, making it bounce on the water surface before it sunk. He wanted her; deep inside, he knew it to be true but his human side held him back during crucial moments. For the first time in his life, he felt for certain that she was worth breaking all societal norms to explore the taboo. He sat down, leaning forward and putting his elbows on his knees as a deep breath left his lips.
After a few minutes, he felt gentle pressure at his mental barriers coming from the spot where the Eldunari were kept. He lowered his barriers, granting access.
"Hello...?"
"Greetings, Shadeslayer," amelodic, feminine voice flowed in his mind like a gentle tide wave. "My name is Jenve and here is my friend…" Eragon got a mental picture of a black dragoness and then…
"Tinath," a blue, male dragon spoke up with a calm tone. "A pleasure to meet you as well."
"How may I help you? Are you the Eldunari that Glaedr mentioned today?"
"Actually, we are supposed to help you… but, yes, we are," the male continued uncertainly. Eragon's thoughts went to the matter he contemplated just a moment ago, then he shook his head, brushing the thought aside.
"How can such a handsome dragon be so shy at times?" Jenve teased her friend as he let out a "please drop it" growl, making her giggle. "What my friend tried to say was that Glaedr-elda sent us to tell you about the Order before the fall and how normal life looked for riders and dragons."
"You'd never drop this teasing?" the blue dragon asked the female with a faint hope.
"Never..." she replied with a seductive tone. Eragon fell silent listening to the exchange between Eldunari.
"Forgive her, Shadeslayer. She has her… moments," he said, fumbling with his words.
"Oh, when I had my 'moments', your gaze wouldn't leave my scales." A wave of embarrassment from the blue male flooded their mental connection, making Eragon feel as awkward as the male probably was.
"I believe you were mates…" the rider began.
"Nooo… Tinath found better and smaller… female than me. We were good friends so she was fine with me pushing his buttons from time to time," Jenve replied with a teasing and mysterious tone at the same time.
Eragon tilted his head, curious as to why she paused before she said 'female,' then turned his attention to the male, raising his brow.
"Ehm… Can we change the topic?" Tinath replied in a pleading voice.
"Yes, yes, the Order of old. Where shall I begin…" Jenve gave the male some room to breathe.
"Well, the new Order will be rebuilt from scratch thus every required room like classrooms, libraries, hatcheries, and so on will have to be built. Glaedr-elda or Umaroth-elda could introduce you and Saphira to that aspect… You probably have documents about Doru Araeba which are really interesting to read… but…" She paused, noticing the rider was lost in thought.
"Is everything alright, Eragon?" Tinath asked warmly.
"No, not really." Eragon grabbed another flat rock and skipped it across the water's surface.
Jenve connected dots, recalling the shift of his attention when she mentioned his dragoness' name.
"Sometimes it is better to listen to your heart. It usually knows what is right…" Jenvethen held her voice like she was distracted by something else. "You are about to find it out yourself." She slowly withdrew from his mind with Tinath, leaving Eragon confused at the bank of the river.
He stared at the water, listening to the world around him as he thought about the ambiguous advice of the black dragoness. Suddenly, he heard the rustle of bushes on his right side, making him turn his head to the source. He was so preoccupied with the previous conversation, he didn't notice her coming.
There Saphira was, standing between the trees with her scales shining like gems in the evening sun. Her tail swung from side to side, showing signs of nervousness and anticipation. He looked at her from the tips of her claws to her chest and the elegant curve of her neck to her beautiful muzzle. Her sapphire eyes looked into his brown ones with tenderness and affection. As if on cue, she walked up to him from behind, rolling her hips from side to side. The rider looked over his shoulder as she exposed her flank to him. Her body was slim, yet muscular, and she took every step with grace without turning her gaze away from him.
It seemed the dragoness began making a circle around him like she was showing off her beauty to her rider. She went in front of him; he could see the semi-transparent membranes of her wings, muscles rippling beneath the scales of soft belly and powerful thighs. Saphira kept looking at Eragon, reading his body language. He was entranced with her display, and she hummed warmly.
She lowered herself to the ground with her chest right in front of him. Carefully, she twisted her body, reaching out with her right paw to hook it behind his back. Eragon sat there unable to move with his mouth slightly agape. Seeing him entranced, the dragoness brought another paw to him as she rolled onto her side, exposing her belly. With a steady yet gentle hold, she moved Little One closer to her. She curled her neck down, noticing him holding her arm to steady himself. He didn't say anything and it worried her.
As her chest met his back, her paws wrapped around him in a gentle hug. Her sensitive ears caught a sharp breath from the rider. Saphira slipped her muzzle under her wing as it moved above the pair to create their own little world where only the two of them mattered.
The deep pressure inside Eragon's chest made him feel ready to burst at any moment. His mind looked like a wild and forgotten forest with no clear path to safety— one wrong move and there would be unforeseen consequences for both of them. He clenched his hands over her paws as they moved up and down, caressing him tenderly. His breath quickened. After a moment, he heard her whisper calling him with a longing tone in her voice. It flowed in his mind like a gentle wave on a calm sea, reaching each corner of his soul.
Feeling a bit afraid, the rider turned his gaze up and soon he met her brilliant, sapphire eyes that seemed to gleam with an incomprehensible emotion he had not seen before. Her gaze darted around his face and soon a soft croon left her muzzle, chittering to him in a soothing tone. Her paw moved up over his chest and soon she could feel his strong heartbeat. Despite the close proximity of the sharp claws hooked on his shoulder, he didn't feel threatened, but rather, the rider pressed his cheek into her paw, nuzzling it shyly.
Saphira's gaze softened further as she watched her Little One give in to her tender embrace. She gently moved her mind into his, slipping through his mental walls with ease. The female pushed his darkening thoughts aside carefully as she curled her neck as far as she could to touch his forehead. Her wet and smooth tongue touched his skin, giving him a calming lick. She could feel his own arms wrapping around hers tighter like they didn't want to let her go.
A stifled sob left the mouth of the rider as he clenched his eyes shut and fought back tears. With a staggering voice, he spoke at last.
"Saphira…" He couldn't stop the tears anymore as they ran down his face. After a moment, his partner-of-mind-and-heart replied with a voice that melted his heart.
"My Little One…"
The author's note:
Hello dear readers, I apologise for fairly long delay in posting this chapter. I had a writing block around August/September and only by the end of September I finished the rough draft of this chapter. Then my University term began and had no time to edit this chapter properly. Due to studies being a priority it can be possible I would need 2 months or so to write one chapter.
All in all, I hope the content in chapter 5 would be worth the wait for you. Let me know what you think in reviews, I am looking forward to reading them! :)
Special thanks to my friend The Vilified and Mark for beta reading and editing :)
Have a nice day.
UPDATE 25th of October 2019.:
I uploaded better edited version of the chapter, fixing remaining grammar problems.
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!