The wind ruffled his hair as he flew on the back of his brother in heart and mind. The sun was just rising as they flew over the forests of Du Weldenvarden. A smile grazed his lips as he relished in the open connection he had with the dragon. Their minds were constantly in connection with one another as they spent every waking moment with one another.
"Bid'daum."
'Yes?'
The elf was silent for awhile, seemingly lost in thought. The white dragon was far too used to his rider's antics and instead let him mull over his thoughts as most elves do even though his elf was not much like that but rather curious and full of questions. Eragon couldn't help but feel like something was wrong, glancing down at the once white scales blue stared back at him. Confusion set in his bones as his eyes blurred and again the scales were white.
'It's time to wake up, Eragon.' The dragon's voice was deep
Eragon frowned and shook his head, tightening his grip on the saddle. "Saphira? What do you mean?"
'Wake up, Eragon.'
Eragon's eyes snapped open as he sucked in a deep breath, his body shaking slightly. He panted aggressively, fear flowed through him as he panicked. He couldn't understand where he was and his chest burned, like Slither Oil had just been poured over him. The room was just starting to brighten due to the sun rising higher in the air. His heart pounded as he extended his consciousness in a hope to find Saphira. Instead he was met with three things; Animals, An elf and finally a dragon. Eragon immediately pulled back when both the elf and dragon acknowledged his probing and panic set in. Who was this? How did they capture him from Uru'baen and keep him alive? Eragon frowned as he thought of the explosion of energy that had taken over the citadel.
The door creaked open as a tall, silver haired elf walked into the room. Eragon's heart started to beat wildly as he realized he was staring face to face with his late teacher, Oromis. He was losing his mind, was he in the void? Was that possible? Why would he be on the Crags of Tel'naeir? Eragon decided he would not focus on it but rather gently placed two fingers to his lips and dipped his head.
"Atra esterni ono thelduin, Ebrithril." His voice was hoarse from however long he had not used it and he cleared his throat slightly.
Oromis stared at him for a second and Eragon hoped he was not being judged for failing his teacher but rather then being scolded the elf nodded his head and finished his part of the greeting, "Atra du evarínya ono varda, Finiarel."
Eragon cleared his throat again before adding the optional last phrase, hoping to show his deepest respect for the late elf. "Un atra mor'ranr lifa unin hjarta onr."
Oromis was silent for awhile and Eragon had long since learned his first lesson of patience so rather than waste time waiting he cleared his mind and started to meditate. There was peace in the silence, peace Eragon hadn't felt in a very long time. A gentle smile graced his lips as he sat in bed meditating. He could hear the hold elf shuffling around but rather than disturb the peace it filled him with deju vu as he was reminded of the mornings he spent practicing the rimgar and learning to be an ant.
Oromis stepped into his personal space causing Eragon to let go of his focus on the world around him but rather stare at the elf in front of him. Eragon gave him a slight smile as he took the tea that Oromis had outstretched for him. Eragon accepted it gratefully as Oromis sat down in the chair across from him and he couldn't help but wonder at Saphira's whereabouts. His mind was empty of any trace of her and that caused a panic within him, he didn't like the fact that he couldn't feel the partner of both his soul and his mind.
"How are you faring?" Oromis's voice cut through his thoughts like a fresh breath of air.
Eragon nodded ever so slightly, "I am here, am I not Oromis-Elda."
Oromis studied him again, his eyes seeming to be taking him in. Eragon held his master's gaze and they just stared at each other. He had to admit, Oromis looked much better than the last time they sat together in this room. Oromis finally looked away and instead stared out the window at the golden sparks that were coming in. Eragon smiled as he recognized the way the scales sparked in the sun, much like Saphira's had.
Eragon slowly pushed out his mind to the Golden Dragon. Glaedr seemed hesitant to let him in so Eragon rather waited, figuring that Oromis and him were having a serious conversation. After five minutes of waiting he was finally let in and Eragon slowly connected their minds together hoping to not upset the elder. He repeated the same greeting with the dragon as he had Oromis.
'Tell me elf, what was your dragon's name?'
Eragon tensed up. His dragon's name? Why would Glaedr be asking about Saphira's name?
'Tell me, Ebrithril, do you know my name?'
Glaedr's mind stilled at the question and he felt Oromis finally speak his mind on the situation.
'Should we know your name, Finiarel?'
Eragon immediately retracted his mind as the panic set in his bones again. He stumbled upwards and out of the bed, his legs giving up on him and he collapsed to the floor. He struggled to pull himself upwards as Oromis watched him critically.
Eragon knew it was useless but the memories of the throne room were now attacking his mind, "SAPHIRA!"
He finally yanked himself forward and wobbled over to Brisingr, strapping it to his waste. He turned to face Oromis and bowed, "Forgive me, Oromis Ebrithril. I am needed elsewhere."
Eragon went to open the door and find out what was going on but as soon as he grabbed the door handle it slammed open and sent him to the floor again. Resigned to his fate, Eragon simply laid on the floor as the figure that had opened the door stormed in.
"Those damned Forsworn!" A thick voice swore out as he slammed a sword down onto the table.
Oromis patiently responded, "Would you like some tea, Brom?"
Eragon's head snapped upwards and he stared at the much younger figure of his father. If Eragon didn't know better, they almost looked like carbon copies if not for the fact that Brom's hair was an auburn while his was a dark brown. He gulped slightly as he stared at the man in front of him, obviously angry.
As he sat up he couldn't help the groan that escaped his throat and that caused the new occupant in the room to round his focus on him. Eragon finally got a clear view of his Father and he couldn't help the gulp of nervousness he swallowed down.
"Hello Brom"
Brom's eyebrows furrowed and Eragon studied him some more. His auburn hair was flaked with stripes of silver, his beard was not so long but rather trimmed neatly to his face. His face was just starting to get wrinkles on it and he had freckles rather than moles all over. He was clearly built well, his back and shoulders broad. Eragon couldn't help but realize he looked to be in his late 30's or early 40's.
"How is it you know who I am, Elf?"
'Again with the Elf? Seriously?' Eragon grumbled to himself before addressing his father, "Why would I not know you? I've known you for the past 17 years of my life."
Brom scowl deepened, "You mistake me, I've never once seen you."
Oromis chose this moment to speak up, "Yes, He seems to know who Glaedr and I are as well. Even calls us Ebrithril but yet, I've never trained him. He called out for the names Saphira and Arya a lot in his fevered dreams though." Oromis paused as the pained look crossed Brom's face at the mention of his Dragon's name, "His mind is strange as well. There should be a dragon's consciousness there, for his mind shows remnants of a bond and yet it's dull. I would say he's been bonded to a dragon for a long time due to the point of his ears but that would not explain the other elven features. While he looks like us-"
'He is not an Elf. If he looked human, I would almost say he would be a carbon copy of Brom himself.' Glaedr spoke into their minds.
Eragon realized the gravity of the situation at this exact moment. His bond with Saphira didn't exist? How could it not exist? That makes no sense, He should not be without the bond even when a dragon passes to the void a part of them will always remain in the rider's mind and yet Oromis claims that there's simply no traces.
Oromis was silent for another moment before asking the most damning question of them all, "Eragon. What year is it?"
"8002"
Both Brom and Oromis frowned and he felt Glaedr's confusion at his statement.
"What are you on about, Elf? It's 7952."
Horror filled his features as Eragon thought of the implications that Brom had just implied.
"No, you don't understand. I'm dead, this is the void. There's no other explanation, Saphira and Arya escaped Uru'Baen. That's why there's no bond there because my Dragon still lives. I refuse to believe this, no, you're wrong Brom it's 8002."
Eragon gripped his hair as he paced around the room the other two beings watching him, "I'm dead. I'm dead. I'm dead…"
Oromis stood up and grabbed his shoulders, "Explain, boy if you were dead why would the stab wound to your gut still hurt? You are not dead. Explain yourself as best as you can."
'The bond. There's no bond with Saphira yet because at this time I don't exist. I won't exist for another 33 years. Arya is still carrying Saphira's egg around Alagaesia hoping to get it hatched.'
Eragon took a shaky breath as he looked at the two men in the room, "It would seem that I've been transported to the past."
"Okay, that explains nothing. Why are you here boy?" Brom practically growled out.
"Peace Brom, let him speak. He is shaken up."
"You do not believe he is truly from the future, do you Ebrithril?"
'We have seen far more confusing things than this. He reeks of Dragon Magic, Magic we do not share with anyone, not even our own riders. If something like this was possible it needed to be done by ancient and powerful magic and a lot of it.' Glaedr's tone got Brom to fall silent.
"I was born in Carvahall in the year 7985. My mothers name was Selena and we didn't know who my father was. I was raised by my Uncle Garrow and Aunt Marrian alongside my cousin Roran. When I was 15 and hunting through the Spine a bright flash of magic exploded into the clearing and I was met with a blue stone. After keeping the stone for some time, it hatched. A blue dragon that I raised in the Spine and ultimately ended up naming Saphira. I was the first free rider in 100 years since Galbatorix took over and so I was then whisked away to the Varden and then Ellesmera at which point the Varden declared open war on Galbatorix and we…" Eragon trailed off at this point. He looked away shamefully, "I failed. Galbatorix was too strong, he had too much power and he knew the Name of Names. He stabbed me through the back while I tried to save someone else and the last thing I remember is Eldunarí chanting and then an explosion of magic again."
Oromis and Brom sat silently as they pondered his words. Eragon had purposefully spoken in the Ancient Language so they understood that he was telling the truth. Still, even then he could see the contemplation on their faces.
"I do not believe you. How can we trust you?" Brom said, glaring at him.
Eragon glared back at his father, anger sparking inside of him as he stood up. Brom stepped forward and suddenly they were in each other's faces bristling. Oromis's laughter caused both men to look at him in shock.
"You said that your family didn't know your Father but looking at the two of you, I think I know."
Brom looked startled while Eragon simply looked sheepish. "Aye, I am born to Selena Cadocsdaughter and Brom Holcombsson."
"I still don't believe this." Brom grumbled out and Eragon realized he was wearing the same pants he had been when he had stormed Uru'Baen.
Digging through his pants pocket he pulled out Aren. "You say you do not believe in me but I am holding Aren as you wear it."
Oromis and Brom both stepped closer to look at the ring and then the ring on Brom's finger.
"Well, There isn't much else we can do but believe it. You were clearly taught by me by the way you sat silently while I tarried around."
"I knew you were testing me." Eragon stated a slight grin lighting up his face. "But if it brings you peace of mind, there was a time where a magic kept erasing Glaedr-Elda's memories so he gave me a phrase to say."
Eragon paused for a second before speaking, "Andumë and Fíronmas at the hill of sorrows, and their flesh like glass."
Oromis stilled at his words and he felt Glaedr stop as well. "So it seems we have no choice but to believe you then for you to know things you shouldn't possibly know without being told and considering the fact I've never seen you it leaves no further question in my mind as to the fact the dragon's have chosen to send you back but why?"
Eragon paused, "Where is Arya Dröttningu at this time?"
'She should be here in three day's time with your Saphira if we are to go off what you've said, Elfling.' Glaedr rumbled out.
"Then it's no coincidence that I've been sent here, thirty three years before my birth, where Arya is currently on her way to Ellesmera with Saphira and you two in the same city." Eragon realized the dragon's had given him what he had always needed, time.
Eragon realized he now had 50 years to train with Oromis, Brom and Glaedr to learn how to be a proper rider. Saphira would reach a good size and maybe, just maybe he can save certain people.
'Murtagh, Thorn. I'll save you both.'
Eragon felt his resolve steel as he turned to face Oromis and Brom, "I also know the rider of the Red Egg. If we act fast we can have two riders at your disposal."
"How fast?" Brom asked, an eager look in his eyes.
"We can't have you killing Morzan until 7982."
"You mean to say he's Morzan's son?" Brom cried out, his expression filling with rage. "I will not spare him anything, I don't care if he's the red rider!"
"Your rage clouds your vision, Brom. We have 30 years to worry about this situation. Let us not focus on it now. Now we wait for Arya to return with the egg and get started on your training. Up, Eragon it's time for the rimgar. You as well Brom you can get into shape as well seeing as you'll be helping me with his training."
"WHAT?"
Eragon just laughed slightly as he stood up and looked towards the future. Although he wasn't with the people that knew him, he knew them and that was enough. Eragon stumbled outside suddenly, more confident in himself. Although he still felt empty without Saphira he was looking forward to his bonding with her soon.
