Chapter 5 - The Storm
Murtagh woke at dawn, jerking upright when he felt a sharp prod against his mental shields. Thorn's mind was soon joining his, adding his strength to his Rider's and Murtagh relaxed – right up until a thought carved into the shape of a dagger pierced straight through their joint shield. Murtagh yelped and he heard Thorn's roar from elsewhere in the city as Vrael's voice, impatient as he was, echoed into his mind.
"Come to my quarters. I have a plan for the defence and you will have an important part to play."
Murtagh was never one to refuse a direct order from either Vrael or the King. Both dreading and excited for the battle ahead, he found his way to Vrael's quarters and entered to find the higher ranking Generals and mages also in attendance.
Vrael glanced over to Murtagh when he stepped into the chamber beyond, one with a large map of Belatona and the surrounding countryside. The old elf looked as if he hadn't slept in the slightest, not that Murtagh was surprised considering the storm that had arisen from nowhere over the past few hours – he knew that Vrael had a close relationship with nature like all other elves, but he'd never seen him use that and his knowledge to brew a storm of such magnitude before. Later Vrael would be entering into the siege in full, and no doubt he was dreading it and wishing otherwise, but Galbatorix was not to be denied. "I will deal with Oromis and Glaedr," Vrael said to the surrounding humans. "As long as Murtagh occupies Eragon and the elves are kept distracted, then this plan will work. But you must all understand that you all have your own parts of this and any one of you failing at your assigned tasks will be held entirely responsible for the failure of Oromis' capture."
Murtagh knew none of the others, not even the other magic-users in the room, would have felt the other presence looming over the room from Vrael. He nearly missed the ancient elf's sharp twitch as Galbatorix used his eyes as his own. Evidently, the King hardly trusted Vrael as much as he claimed if he was keeping such a close eye on him. Vrael had taught Murtagh much, but even he wasn't sure where he stood with the older Rider.
The storm had sprung up throughout the preparations, lightning bursting intermittently across the sky and horizontal rain hammering against the Varden's defensive fortifications.
"There were clear skies only two hours ago," Roran said, remotely frustrated as he stared across the plain at the city before them. "This couldn't have come on so fast."
"Oromis thinks it's Vrael," Eragon murmured. "It's definitely suspicious timing." He craned his head around to find Saphira's scales, hunkered down not far from him. "What about the winds?"
"They're too strong for me to fly," Saphira said, tone tinged with frustration.
"It must be the same for Thorn. He won't be able to fly either, which just leaves Glaedr." Eragon glanced back to Roran. "Glaedr might be the only one flying in this," he relayed to his cousin. "Both Saphira and Thorn will be thrown about in these winds."
"Doesn't look like Thorn's got a problem with that," Roran said, nodding towards Belatona's parapets where Thorn's ruby hide was easily visible. The dragon was perched, his wings tucked in close and Eragon nodded slightly.
"He could still be a problem," Eragon agreed. Behind them, a horn blared from the Varden encampment. "At least we've breached the outer walls once," he muttered. "Let's hope we won't have to breach the walls a third time."
Roran clapped Eragon on the shoulder. "Stay safe, cousin," he said, tone fervent.
Eragon nodded, unable to explain the horrible feeling in his gut. "You too."
Instead of flying, Saphira and Eragon joined the infantry. While the winds stopped the dragons from flying, once inside the city the winds were weakened significantly, enough that dragon fire and projectiles were once again able to be used against their intended targets.
A volley of arrows bore down on them from the parapets alongside Thorn's occasional jets of fire, incinerating both Varden soldiers and the King's army. Eragon tightened his grip on Brisingr as he vaulted over the flaming remnants of a wooden beam, colliding with a dozen soldiers alongside his elven guard. A blast of fire from Saphira splintered the ranks of the King's army ahead, allowing Eragon and their guards to make quick work of them as they fell back, at least until Eragon saw Murtagh waiting for them on the other side.
"Eragon," Murtagh greeted, smile hidden behind his helm. Thorn flared his wings, allowing them to catch on the wind and advanced towards them on top of the crowded houses. "I was beginning to think you had been delayed," Murtagh said, hand around Zar'roc's pommel as he unsheathed the blade. "Shall we?" He asked as Thorn growled at them.
Saphira snarled fiercely back as the square filled with another battalion of the King's army.
Eragon's eyes narrowed at Murtagh. "The storm," he said, "is that Vrael?"
"Oromis told you?" Murtagh shrugged, even as a blast of fire from Glaedr splashed harmlessly against the wards around Belatona's keep. Eragon watched as the golden dragon disappeared amongst the dark clouds once again, Oromis and Glaedr free to attack as they wished without Thorn in the sky to harry them. "I'm not surprised," Murtagh said, also having watched Glaedr's strike. But he didn't seem at all concerned with the ancient dragon above. "Vrael knows many tricks, some of which he's still hasn't told the King. But we both have our orders here today, Eragon. Neither of us can disobey our King, not even Vrael."
"Vrael is greater than either you or the King," one of the elves at Eragon's side spat, expression wrought with anger. If there was one thing that could have the elves angered, it was a mention of Vrael or any dragon being enslaved to the King.
"He is," Murtagh agreed easily. "But that doesn't stop the King." He shook his head, pacing forwards. "Enough of this," Murtagh said.
Eragon agreed with him, raising Brisingr again and stepping forwards. Thorn immediately released a blast of fire at him, but Eragon's wards deflected it harmlessly away as Saphira roared and lunged across the houses at the male dragon.
Vibrations rocketed up Eragon's arm as he blocked Murtagh's first strike, returning a flurry of his own. He was aware of the elves engaging with the battalion Murtagh had brought with him, Arya and Blödhgarm staying reasonably close to his fight with Murtagh in case it looked as if he were to lose.
Eragon couldn't have been sure of how long they fought, no matter what he did Murtagh matched and returned his own strikes. Neither of them seemed to gain any ground, simply exchanging cuts without giving an inch.
That odd urge in Eragon's gut grew as the storm clouds overhead swelled through their fight, the near-constant thunder falling ominously silent as the wind stilled. Eragon locked their blades, eyes narrowing sharply at Murtagh. His brother merely smiled, before shoving Eragon back to break the lock and advancing as a roar came from Glaedr far above and was echoed by Saphira as Thorn's teeth tore into her armour. Eragon flinched as he heard the dragons.
It was as Murtagh advanced that the storm clouds finally exploded, a great flash of lightning tearing through them and shearing into the hide of the diving dragon. No doubt having sensed the abrupt change in the storm clouds, Glaedr had dove immediately but even he was never going to be able to move fast enough to outmanoeuvre a lightning bolt.
The thunder fell silent as the rain and wind eased and Eragon gaped up at the sight overhead as Glaedr's smoking form rocketed down to the surrounding plain. Thorn abruptly released Saphira, much to Eragon's relief until the ruby dragon spread his wings and took off, heading up towards Glaedr and the far smaller figure falling with him now that they wouldn't be thrown around by the wind.
"Saphira!" Eragon yelled, but she was already taking off after him. Eragon spun around to face Murtagh, who was already watching him closely. "Oromis-" Murtagh attacked, and this time he pushed Eragon back as a blast erupted from Belatona's keep and struck Saphira's wing, shredding the membrane. "No," Eragon breathed, horrified as he watched Saphira struggle to land with a torn wing even as he struggled against Murtagh.
Above the plain, Thorn finally reached Glaedr and tore Oromis' limp form from the saddle mere seconds before Glaedr's bulk collided with the ground.
So I'm aware I may get some of you saying: That's impossible but honestly, it's Vrael, I really don't think it's all that unlikely especially with the Eldunari in play. And there is a specific word just for lightning so it's not like that's not impossible.
I apologise for the long wait... but I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm currently rereading the series so should actually begin updating again.
For anyone following my PJO fics, to cut a long story short: Uni was kicking my ass the past 2 months and then I got COVID at the beginning of January too. The next chapter for TAW should be up either later today or tomorrow.
enaerual: I'll be honest, this hasn't been my priority lately and my relationship with this fandom is rocky at best but I was in the mood for more... so here it is XD
sidaqlotay07: Thanks!
aquestiontotheworld: I'm sorry for keeping you so long! XD.
Erinti Sairina Melkoriel: Who said he hasn't, Vrael could very possibly be mad... Next chapter we're going to Urû'baen, for the extremely entertaining dynamic between Murtagh, Vrael and Galbatorix. But yes, I tried to put Vrael and Murtagh onto reasonably good terms since Vrael is no doubt aware it's not Murtagh's fault that he's in the position he is...
Ghostfall: Yes, no Kronercy in this for obvious reasons... but I hope the relationships I've decided for this are equally as good...
