Whew, It's weird having the desire to write again after not being able to do anything for two months and even if this isn't one of my PJO books, I hope it's still enjoyable. I'm well aware of how overused this trope is but I think I'm going to do it differently then the others, considering I won't sent them back to when Eragon first got the egg but much earlier ;). Anyways, this story WILL be Eragon x Arya just throwing that warning out now. I will do my best to keep the characters OC but they might have OOC moments. I understand that this Prologue is also going to be fairly OOC for the customers but I think it fits well for the beginning of the story and the premise of what I'm trying to convey. If you can guess some of the foreshadowing I've hidden in the story feel free to point it out! Anyways without further ado, the prologue for Fates Demanded.
Eragon felt his breath leave him in gasps, his dwarven armor seemed to drag his bones to the ground. Arya stood at his side, loyal to no end, as she too struggled to breathe. Galbatorix stood before them with an evil grin. Vrangr, once named Islingr, gleamed with their blood.
Eragon chanced a glance over to Saphira who was crouched on the ground ready to pounce. Shruikan's growls seemed to make the room vibrate, his large blue eye staring down at them in madness. Eragon closed his eyes as he had to pass the dead sight of his brother and the red dragon. Murtagh and Thorn had been slain as a sign of their 'insolence.' His brother's screams still echoed through his mind.
Eragon stared at Galbatorix in horror realizing there was nothing they could do. It simply was too late to accomplish anything. They had taken too long even if they had done the best of their abilities. The Eldunari that had accompanied Eragon to Uru'baen had long since fallen silent and shut in on themselves. Another glance at Arya told her she was afraid, visibly shaken and that hurt Eragon more than he could imagine. The Mad King's laughter only seemed to deepen as he saw the look between the two heroes of the Varden.
A buzzing sound had started to fill the air, soft and quiet but there all together. Eragon felt the magical energy that accompanied it but it seemed he was the only one. He glanced down at his once gleaming armor now coated in blood. His blood. Eragon felt his resolve slowly collapsing, he had failed. In the end, all of the men who had thrown their lives to the cause and died had been in vain. All the men he had killed, the sons and daughters he had orphaned and the women he had widowed had all been in vain.
Tears slid down his face and he collapsed to his knees, Brisingr clattering to the ground. Collapsing in on himself he wailed at his failure, at the lives he had cost. Galbatorix only seemed to laugh louder, his madness enjoying Eragon's pain.
'Saphira. I am sorry. I am so sorry, heart of mine, for I have failed us."
Eragon knew it was a risk to reach out with his mind to the people he held closest but he couldn't stop himself from saying one last goodbye as a freeman. The humming seemed to thrum faster, almost as if it was dancing across his skin. Arya and Saphira both seemed to finally notice the flow of magic but they too did not think much of it even as it danced across their skin the same it did his.
'You have not failed, we have done everything we could. There is still time, Eragon. Stand up and face it.' Saphira's voice cut through his mind but he too felt her hesitance in those words.
'Eragon, Let us die on our feet together.'
Arya's musical mind was like a shelter to the grief he felt and Saphira's was the warmth. Sniffling slightly he stood up and wiped his eyes. He stared at Galbatorix and resolved his will. He was just a farm boy when he had started his journey but now he was more. He was the last Leader of the Varden as his Father was the first. He would die today, but he would not make it easy. Galbatorix would be left with a permanent reminder of him, that Eragon promised.
"I am Eragon Bromsson. The Slayer of Durza and the Last Free Rider. I will die trying to free Alagaesia from your tyrannical rule before I bend to your will. The people will one day know freedom from your rule, maybe not today but one day. One day someone will get the satisfaction of your head rolling at their feet. The free people will never stop fighting."
Saphira punctuated his words with a roar that echoed through the big room and Arya stood closer to Eragon signifying that he was not alone. The energy seemed to dance faster and a slight glow overtook their features. It danced multiple colors and seemed to strengthen them. Eragon didn't care for it because he was charging, a battle cry tearing through his lips as Brisingr clashed on Vrangr.
"Foolish boy! I could have given you anything you wanted and this is how you repay me? I won't kill you boy but I will torture until you are nothing but a shell of what you once were and Saphira will bring back the dragon's no matter how much you dislike it!" Galbatorix cried out as he slashed Vrangr downwards the strength the Eldunarí provided him, boosting him.
Eragon refused to go without wounding Galbatorix at least once so he continued to slash and dodge. Arya had come to his side and together they fought Galbatorix. Shruikan was occupied with Saphira who had once again started to climb his neck, her thoughts roaring in anger. Dangerous as it was, they had nothing to lose so they stayed attached to one another holding on to what they were. Eragon could not determine if he was the fair elf who's silver sword gleamed in the light or if he was the blue dragon sinking his claws into thick scales, fire pouring out of his mouth and he found that he didn't care. What did it matter? They had always been one entity and they would die together just as well as they lived together. Eragon realized in that moment how much he loved the two women who had marched to hell with him and now we're going to enter the void together.
The glow that had been surrounding them had started to become blinding and Galbatorix was finally aware of it, the Name of Names left his lips just as quickly as it left their minds but whatever it was didn't stop the glow and hum. Eragon realized the hum was actually chanting, the Eldunarí he had brought with him were chanting a spell in a language he was unaware of. What shocked him the most was that some of the Eldunarí under Galbatorix's control had also started to aggressively chant what the free ones were. Slowly Arya and Eragon started to gain ground before Eragon felt the wound Murtagh had put in his thigh spasm causing Arya to feel it as well and she stumbled, Vrangr now in a downwards arch towards her. Eragon ignored the pain and surged forward using his body to take the blade.
Eragon was suddenly numb, incredibly numb. He stared down at Arya who was staring at him in shock. She reached her hand up and cupped his cheek as Saphira roared her distress, feeling his numbness.
"You stupid human boy!" Arya cried out, horror in her eyes as she realized Eragon had just sacrificed himself for her. Arya had tears in her own eyes as she stared at the man who had just given his life for hers. Although Arya could feel Saphira's pain at Eragon's loss she also felt her reassurance of Arya's survival.
'Go, Arya run!' Saphira cried out, 'Let one of us leave here alive!' Eragon shared his own agreement with her words even he could not speak, encouraging with his will that Arya left but before she could do anything Galbatorix roared.
"FOOLISH LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE! THE DRAGONS WILL NOW DIE OUT." Galbatorix was behind anger as he raged shouting curses at Eragon for even daring to exist.
Eragon felt Vrangr rip out through his back and his vision blurred. He focused on Arya for a second and he was about to say his goodbyes before a voice entered his mind.
'Your time is not yet done, Eragon-Finiarel. You three are our last help, save us.' Glaedr informed them before the chanting the dragons had been speaking reached an all time high before an explosion shot through the room, the glow that had been slowly taking over them shot outwards blinding everything in sight.
Eragon felt nothing as his vision went from white to black abruptly. His last thoughts were of Arya, Saphira and the rest of Alagaesia.
'The dragons believe in you, Eragon Shadeslayer. You've saved our race before, you can do it again.'
Well then! Hit me with the constructive criticism! I am eager to hear what you guys think of the story so far and if you have any ideas on what might happen!
- Lev
