Chapter 3 - A Rider's Speech
Eragon could see Vrael watching from the city parapets as the elven army merged with the Varden. As she did with Oromis, Nasuada greeted Islanzadi in the pavilion with the King of Surda Orrin and Orik the dwarf. The Elven Queen replied in turn before she abruptly turned to Oromis, the dismissal obvious.
Orrin looked rather put out, frowning heavily.
"The warrior?" Izlanzadi questioned. At her side, Däthedr her adviser looked worried at her words.
"Vrael," Oromis said tiredly. "As I suspected."
Eragon cleared his throat. "How did you suspect it though? Everyone thought he was dead."
"The ease with which he held… the white blade." Oromis was obviously reluctant to call the Rider's sword Vrangr. "His height… how he fought. And his eyes." Oromis sighed. "I was around Vrael enough to be able to recognise him or at least suspect."
Däthedr frowned heavily. "As Eragon said, Vrael is supposed to have died on Ristvak'baen. He was a close ally of Ellesmera, to the elves. We could always rely on him – as could the rest of Alagaësia – whenever there were problems. To see him fighting us… many elves will rightly be furious."
Nasuada pressed her lips together. "What of his dragon?" She questioned. "Umaroth, is it?"
Oromis smiled sadly. "Vrael said two days ago – after our duel – that he hadn't sensed Umaroth since Vroengard. That doesn't mean he was killed, but… given that there were claims from other Riders after the battle that they saw him being knocked out of the sky by Shruikan, it's a likely possibility. If he hasn't shown himself yet, I doubt he will within the next few days. I'd be more concerned about Vrael for now – he's a name-slave."
Eragon winced at the reminder. The Ancient Language had names for everything, even people. If you know the name, you control the person.
Oromis continued. "Vrael would never help Galbatorix if he has a choice, so he must also be a name-slave. If Umaroth does appear, he will help us, and not the Empire."
"Vrael's mind was supposedly the only mind that Galbatorix could not break into," Orik pointed out. "So how has he done it?"
"It's been a century," Eragon murmured. "Who knows what's happened in that time?"
"We cannot take Belatona until he is dealt with," Nasuada said slowly, looking like she was incredibly hesitant to say it.
Queen Islanzadí's eyes sharpened. "No elf will kill Vrael. And if Vrael dies, so will Umaroth if he still lives. Umaroth is one of the largest of the five dragons alive, and is most certainly the oldest. He cannot be killed."
"But then what can we do?" Orrin demanded. "We must take Belatona to advance."
"What about his true name?" Däthedr asked. "He could change it. That will free him from Galbatorix' control."
"That will take time," Oromis said. "Time we do not have."
"Can you defeat him in battle, Oromis-elda?" Islanzadí questioned.
"Not alone. Even before the Fall, Vrael was far stronger than me. Now, I'm crippled and Vrael has no doubt become far stronger. He knows more spells than me. I won't stand a chance alone."
Eragon stepped forward. "Vrael also said very clearly that he's been ordered to capture Oromis on the battlefield. I don't think he should fight him alone."
"We'll have to inform all the elves of recent events before they hear too much from the Varden," Däthedr said. "I'd rather they hear the truth than rumours."
"We haven't said anything yet," Nasuada added. "I decided it would be best to wait for your army to arrive."
"I will tell them," Oromis said firmly. "He is a friend of mine. As for Vrael… I'm the only one who has the slightest chance at taking him out alive. He may have orders to capture me, but with the assistance of the elves I may be able to match him."
"It's a risk," Islanzadí warned. "He may be stronger than you suspect him to be. It's been a hundred years since his loss at Ristvak'baen to Galbatorix. A century during which anything could have happened."
"How long is it likely that Vrael held out against Galbatorix?" Nasuada questioned.
Oromis shook his head. "I don't know," he admitted, spreading his hands. "Only one of the Forsworn was killed in the fighting. That leaves twelve of them, not including Galbatorix, to batter against his shields from the very beginning of his captivity. Unless Vrael decides to reveal what happened to him himself, I doubt we will be able to find out."
"Murtagh may know," Nasuada mused.
"What makes you think that?" Islanzadí asked.
"His reaction when Glaedr blocked Vrael path back to Belatona," Nasuada explained. "None of you were watching?"
"I was more concerned with Vrael and Glaedr," Eragon said. "And then Thorn." Eragon hadn't been the only one reaching for a weapon as Thorn had banked overhead. "What about Murtagh?"
"He seemed ready to launch himself at Glaedr himself if it looked like Vrael was about to be harmed," Nasuada murmured.
"No doubt Galbatorix has made use of Vrael before this siege," Orrin grumbled.
Oromis inclined his head. "Considering Murtagh's spellcasting ability, I don't doubt that Vrael had a hand in teaching him. Vrael always was a particularly adept teacher." He looked as if he were about to continue, before he paused. "But it's likely that Murtagh knows, if only due to Galbatorix telling him the truth to gloat."
"We need to take Belatona," Nasuada stated. "It's not an option to march on to Dras-Leona without taking the city."
"So we need to match Vrael and Murtagh," Eragon quietly said. "At the very least."
"I'll assign some spellcasters to you if you are willing, Shur'tugal," Islanzadí said to Oromis.
Oromis nodded. "That would be best," he agreed. "With some luck, Vrael will not be expecting to face a dozen elves along with me."
"Tomorrow," Nasuada said. "We've had a weeks rest already to recover."
"Tomorrow," Islanzadí echoed in agreement, closely followed by Orrin and Orik.
"Then perhaps now would be a good time to gather our armies?" Oromis murmured. "It may be prudent to stop rumours before they begin regarding Vrael and I."
"Däthedr?" Islanzadí requested.
"It is done, Dröttning."
"Jarsha," Nasuada called, summoning one of the messengers of the Varden, "gather our armies."
As Jarsha rushed off to follow Nasuada's order, Oromis took the opportunity to leave the tent. Eragon immediately ducked out after him. "Ebrithil," he called, gathering Oromis' attention.
"Eragon-finiarel," Oromis greeted. "Something troubles you," he noted.
"Yes, ebrithil," Eragon said. "Vrael… you said it yourself, he was a match for Galbatorix even before the Fall. He has orders to capture you, he said so himself."
"As Murtagh has the same for you, Eragon," Oromis pointed out. "Vrael may possess a greater strength than I, but familiarity with his particular fighting style will allow me to match him in swordsmanship. The elven spellcasters Islanzadí will assign to me will allow me to at the very least shield myself from any spells he may cast. And his own reluctance to capture me, his reluctance to serve the King, will perhaps give me an edge over him."
"That doesn't mean I can't worry for you, Ebrithil."
"Worry for yourself, Eragon. Glaedr is worrying more than enough for both you and him."
Eragon's lips twitched up slightly as he spotted Glaedr's golden scales on the edge of the elven encampment. "I suppose he would be."
It took surprisingly little time for the armies to be gathered. Their movement had caused Thorn to settle on the parapets of Belatona, the ruby dragon intently watching them. Eragon also noted the smaller figures of Vrael and Murtagh next to him.
"This is the first time that all of our races have been gathered together," Oromis said to the armies, his voice yet again enchanted to echo across to Belatona. "And the first time in a century that Glaedr and I – Oromis – have seen a real opportunity to strike out at Galbatorix for his betrayal of our Order. We have been waiting for a century for an egg to hatch so that we may have a chance, a century of waiting for our latest students. But, as no doubt the rumours have already begun, I am not the only old Rider alive today."
Oromis paused long enough for Eragon to hear muttered whispers of, "Vrael."
"Galbatorix has deceived us!" Oromis said. "For one hundred years he has kept Vrael's survival a secret. For one hundred years, Vrael has been suffering at his hand." Eragon knew at this point that Oromis' words were mostly for the elves, whom were all beginning to look righteously furious. "We all know the lies from the Betrayer, none of us knew the truth. The Vrael I knew did his utmost to protect the dragons at his own cost; to shield the younger Dragon Riders by standing against Galbatorix alone. He tried to save Alagaësia and it cost him his freedom, and now I intend to save him. When we march on Belatona, remember the Vrael we all knew. Remember his strength, his courage to stand against the Mad King."
The response from the armies was thunderous. While the humans, dwarves and urgals had many various chants, the elves were by far the loudest.
"Arucane!"
"Aiedail!"
"Hvitr hjarta!"
Eventually, the elves all settled on one word and seemed rather pleased with it. "Edoc'sil!"
Oromis stepped down from the raised platform.
"Ebrithil?" Eragon questioned. "That wasn't what I was expecting." The chants were still continuing, the other races even picking up Edoc'sil from the elves.
Oromis' hand tightened on Naegling's pommel. "Vrael needs a reminder of who he is," he said. "This should provide him more than enough. He's no slave to the Mad King – he's the Leader of the Dragon Riders."
The Riders both watched the figures atop the parapets as the elves encroached across the open plains towards Belatona, though not getting close enough to incite a response from within the city walls. Murtagh had turned slightly to face Vrael, evidently speaking to him. A few seconds later, Thorn let out a furious roar and blasted a jet of flame in the direction of the elves as Vrael turned and descended out of sight.
Oromis sighed. "Vrael," he murmured, "what has the Oath-Breaker done to you?"
"Tomorrow," Eragon said firmly. "Tomorrow, we'll siege the city. We'll get him back."
"Or Murtagh and him will succeed to capture one of us," Oromis said.
So the first half was already pre-written. The second half was not. Since I haven't read any of the books in the series in like 5 years, I'm just gonna warn you all that there may be slight OOC-ness here. So if I need to change anything to get them more in character, please let me know.
So what I do remember is that the elves were basically fanatical about the dragon riders and dragons. I don't think any elf will be pleased to find that Vrael is being forced into serving Galbatorix.
Sairina Thranduiliel: I kinda feel sorry for Vrael. He tried so hard to stop Galbatorix, tried to protect the dragons and Alagaesia, and just everything he had dedicated his life to was lost and burnt and torn down. Whether he died or lived, I still feel sorry for him. Poor elf, dying thinking that he'd failed Alagaesia. If there's anything about Oromis' character that I need to change, pls let me know. I've forgotten how to write the characters of this fandom xD.
SaphiraFan95: Why not? I'm reviving a dead fandom, and a dead elf. It's interesting even for me after 5 years of nothing to do with this fandom. Updates will probably be rare, since I've started uni last month and I'm still trying to get used to the workload.
