A/N: sigh I'm sorry this took me so long…I was simply preoccupied and I had a bad bout of writer's block… I think I got all the most recent reviews, but if I didn't I'm terribly sorry, oki?
Lets talk to the reviewers((these are all answered or w/e reviews for the technical ch.5 the renamed chapter 4 confusing right? Hehehe))
City Pigeon- Yea I liked Tim too, I might bring him back to life for a short while, and HA i havent added in the details yet, but i have answered reviews arent you proud?
Star Saphira- Why thank you! I never considered it to be insulting my story, I juss was like criticism, but im uh sorry o.0;;
Elf-Dragon Girl- Im glad that was a good it was interesting, right? -goes all self conscious and crawls into a hole-
Yuyogopoopy- That's an interesting name, haha thank you for reviewing! Yea I juss don't like fluff but I shall try with the romance for ya, k? Umm not so much this chapter though...
Day Dreamin' Angel- Well thank you please write more of your story fastish!
Woof now that im done you can read, ON WITH THE STORY!
The group was forced to stop due to the fact that a heavy fog had rolled in, and obscured their view of all but two feet in front of them. They had decided to make camp on a patch of long, soft river grass, and judging by the steady gurgling in the background,the Edda river wasn't far off.
"I do not like this fog, it seems unnatural." Arya commented and glanced warily around them. Sira picked a piece of grass and tied it into a knot, then threw it beside her.
"I don't really care, I just want to go to sleep." She said, and sighed loudly.
"Do you suppose it's the twins making this fog magically? I mean, we're been around them long enough that we're used to their magic, and these two," Eragon said and jerked his thumb at Sira and Darren, "Wouldn't be able to sense it yet."
"Twins?" Sira asked, but got no response.
"Yes, but how would they do that?" Murtagh asked.
"Well there has to be some word in the ancient language, and if they really did go to Galbatorix then he could have taught them the magic." Eragon added, and Murtagh shrugged in response.
"All right, I'm going to sleep," Sira said, then stood up and pulled her bedroll off Murtagh ((the horse)).
"Aren't you the least bit concerned about this strange fog?" Arya asked, and Sira looked blankly at her.
"Nope. I said so before, it's just a bit of fog."
"Have you ever seen fog this thick?"
"No, I've never really seen fog. Anyways I haven't slept in two days and I would really like to now; so if you don't mind that's what I'm going to do, as I also said earlier." With that she strode off into the mist, leaving it swirling behind her. Murtagh could see a vague outline of her lying down, and a small shadow waddling after her; Euraus.
Do you really think there is anything wrong with it being foggy? She asked the small dragon, who was now comfortably curled around her head.
No, I do not think so personally, but Saphira is worried.
Well she is probably worried because Eragon is worried.
I do not like that boy. Sira giggled at her dragon's comment and patted Euraus on his small head.
Neither do I, not really anyways.
What about the other one, with the curly hair? You seem to like him.
Yes, I suppose I do. He's nicer to me than the elf and Eragon are, by the way I really did want to go to sleep.
All right, I will let you have your rest, if anything happens that has to do with this "fog" I shall wake you.
Thank you Euraus, good night. Sira said and drifted off to sleep to Euraus' steady breathing.
Murtagh and Darren had agreed to take first watch, letting Arya and Eragon sleep for a while then switching.
"So Darren, what is it you want from my sister?" Murtagh asked, sitting across from the blond boy.
"Your sister?"
"Sira." He said cluing him in.
"She's your sister? I wouldn't have guessed, is she an elf?"
"No, at least I don't think so, maybe half elf. Just answer my question."
"Her necklace. You know she does look kind of like you."
"What?"
"She looks like you."
"No, no, not that. Why do you want her necklace?"
"For the same reason we do." A voice said from behind them, the two drew their swords and whirled around to face the person who had spoken, or rather persons.
"Huildr." One of them said, and Darren and Murtagh had found that they couldn't move.
Nadia! Nadia! Darren called his dragon, but got no answer. He looked around and saw the scarlet hatchling curled up in a ball; she appeared to be sleeping.
Now is not the time to be sleeping, get up!
"She cannot hear you, Darren." He turned to face whoever was speaking to him, a short man with a bald head, and next to him was another man who looked exactly like him. They were dressed in gray tunics and brown pants, with no weapons or armor of any kind. These must have been the twins Eragon spoke of earlier, so they were the cause of the fog!
"Well it seems we meet again, Murtagh. If we wanted, we could invade your thoughts right here and now, but no. Those were not our master's orders. We are simply here for the girl, well not the girl herself, just her necklace. Our master has apparently just figured how extremely powerful it is, and sent us instead of that foolish shade to retrieve it, he has appreciated our information with about the Varden very much, and trusts us completely."
If Murtagh could move, he probably would have spat on them, or stabbed them thoroughly, but alas, he could not move.
"So we will just be on our way and get the girl's necklace, too bad you didn't say goodbye to her, and too bad that you were too weak to help her, now you're going to have that on your conscience." He sneered, and brushed past the men, closely followed by his brother.
Sira felt something change inside her mind, and realized she could no longer feel Euraus, so he had finally gone to sleep. She realized with a jolt that this feeling was different than when he was just asleep, she normally couldn't feel that change, she also felt as if all her energy was being drained from her body. She sat up quickly, and was overwhelmed by the darkness, it surrounded her completely; she couldn't even see her own hand in front of her face.
Euraus… She called out nervously to her dragon, and when she didn't get a response back, Sira began to feel around beside her, searching for the small dragon. Suddenly, she felt as if she were choking, her hands flew up to her neck, but she felt nothing, only air. Sira turned gagged and turned behind her to see if anyone was there, but no one was; so it was magic. She stood up and tried to walk to where Murtagh and Darren were, but only succeeded in going a few paces before she fell to her knees. Whatever it was, it was squeezing her lungs tighter, forcing every last bit of breath out of her, she was losing consciousness, and Sira knew she couldn't hold on for much longer. She remembered back when Galbatorix had taught her magic, there was a word she could use if anyone attacked her; freir, meaning release.
"Freir." She mumbled, but nothing happened, whatever it was just squeezed tighter. Her eyes were glazing over, and her lungs were screaming for air, she clawed at her throat, and then finally fell to the ground with a small thud; no longer drawing in breath.
Saphira suddenly roared and leapt up, waking Eragon and Arya out of their slumber.
What is it, what's the matter? Eragon asked the dragon, who had bounded out of sight; she sent him an image of Sira lying on the ground, unconscious, her head in Murtagh's lap. He was bent over her with his head against her's. Before Eragon could move, Darren ran over to them screaming the whole way.
"You've got to help her! You've got to help her!" He cried, and stopped before Eragon who had leapt up and started to run to where Sira had been sleeping. Darren turned sharply then ran back the way he came, followed by Arya.
"Murtagh what happened?" Eragon asked the man, who hadn't moved. He was just sitting there, bent over Sira.
"We're too late." He said quietly, Euraus was whining and nudging Sira with his head, trying to make her wake up.
What is going on! He asked Saphira, who didn't answer him.
"Too late for what? What happened to her?"
"Those too men, the twins came, they put a spell on us, when it had finally lifted, we came back and found Sira like this. There wasn't, I mean, there wasn't-." He stopped and gulped, then fell beside her, and clutched his head. "If only we were paying attention."
"What is going on?" Arya asked sharply, and looked like she was going to say something else, but stopped and paled. Eragon looked at Sira, she looked like she was sleeping, but he could tell from the way everyone was acting that something bad had happened. He looked her from head to toe, and then noticed she wasn't moving, her chest wasn't rising and falling, she wasn't breathing!
Saphira, is she…?
I do not know child, Euraus says he can still feel her, but faintly. I believe that she is too far-gone for us to bring her back. She told him sadly.
But how can Euraus still feel her, if she really is…how is that possible?
Her spirit may remain, Solumbum told me of these things, a body may leave but their spirit will remain for a time.
Can we bring her back?
I do not know. Eragon walked over to Murtagh and placed his hand on his friend's shoulder.
"We might be able to bring her back, there might be a chance. Murtagh? Can you hear me?" Murtagh didn't look up at Eragon, but turned his head slightly, and squeezed his eyes shut. Eragon saw a drop of water clinging to his lashes, and realized Murtagh was holding back tears.
"How?" He said quietly, so quietly Eragon almost didn't hear him.
"I don't know, Saphira said something about her spirit still being here, if we can-."
"No." Arya interrupted. "We cannot risk it, it is far too dangerous."
"But there is a chance!"
"Yes, there is a chance, but it is too slim to risk it."
"I will do it!" Murtagh said, and finally looked up. "This is my fault, let me."
"No!" Eragon shouted, and shook his head fiercely, changing his mind about his idea. "We do not even know how!" Darren cleared his throat, and looked at them.
"I…I may be of some use afterall. My old friend, he said something about this, I think I may be able to."
"Why didn't you say so?" Murtagh shouted.
"It was so long ago, I barley remember and I do not even know if it will work."
"It's forbidden magic!" Arya cried, "You should know that! If you used it, the elves would exile you! Besides you do not even know the girl that well, why would you want to risk your life for hers?"
"Wait, Arya, you know what he's talking about?" Murtagh asked, and looked at the elf, who fidgeted.
"Yes, of course I do. I also know how to, but it would be nearly impossible and the elves would know if anyone used it! And," She said and turned to Darren. "I know your thinking of using the river as a passageway, and I will not let you!"
"Why not! It's the only plan we've got, and while we're sitting here chatting Sira's soul is probably past the second gate, when she reached the fourth I will not be able to do anything!" He shouted at her.
"Arya, please." Murtagh said and looked at her pleadingly, she sighed and shook her head.
"I cannot allow it." Darren glared at her, then stood up.
"Arya, you don't have a choice in this matter anymore. I don't need your permission for anything, I'm old enough to make my own decisions."
"Well then it's an order."
"Seeing as I'm about to be exiled, I don't really care." He snarled, then bent over and picked up Sira, then walked into the fog. Euraus bolted after Darren; Murtagh stood up slowly, and pushed his hair out of his eyes.
"Stay out of this Arya."
"Don't be so selfish Murtagh! Darren is about to risk his life and give up part of his essence just so he can restore her soul! She might not even be the same person; her heart and lungs might not work! We don't know!" She said and walked after him. Murtagh didn't even give her a second glance; Eragon laid a hand on Arya's shoulder.
"Let it be Arya, it's Darren's choice." He said softly, she stopped walking then turned to face Eragon.
"Eragon, I can't let them do this."
"Yes you can." He said, and then grabbed her hand and pulled her towards where Murtagh and Darren had gone. Eragon tried not to show that he was worried, Arya was right about Darren trying to bring back Sira, but there was nothing he could really do.
Eragon, Euraus says she is fading; he is growing weaker.
How long will it take them?
I do not know, but we don't have as long as I would like. If her soul leaves, Euraus' will go with her, he wouldn't want to live without his master, do you understand?
Yes. I do, I would feel the same way if it were you.
I know little one.
Saphira, what will happen if he can't get her soul, will Sira really be gone?
Yes, I'm sorry to say it but she would be, and Euraus would go with her. Eragon didn't say anymore, he just quickened his pace until he saw the river. Darren was wading into it, he was waist-deep when he finally stopped, and Murtagh stood on the shore watching him.
"Darren, wait! I'll do it!" He shouted, but Darren just shook his head.
"No." He said simply, and then laid Sira's body in the water, her hair fanned out around her head creating a brown halo. Darren bet his head, and put his hands on her shoulders.
"Súndavar ikona né huildr wiol ono, atra eka vant onr grind." He said quietly then cut his hand with a daggar, and placed the bleeding hand on her head. Suddenly, Darren fell into the water, and disappeared. Murtagh started and began to run into the water after him, but Arya grabbed his shoulder and stopped him.
"He is all right, he has just passed through the first gate." Nadia was standing on the bank whimpering pitifully, and at the same time trying to comfort Euraus with little nudges of her head and taps from her tail.
"What about Sira's body?" He asked quietly, and looked out. Her body was staying in place oddly enough; the current didn't drag her downstream.
"She will stay there until he either fails, or is brought back." She said sadly, and looked out at the river, the fog was lifting now that the twins were gone.
"Saphira says that Nadia has lost her connection with Darren, he's past the first gate.'" Arya ground her teeth and sat net to the river.
"We can only wait now, he's now officially dead."
"What!" Eragon asked sharply.
"I mean, he's passed death's gates so he's in death, it is confusing."
"I think I get it, how will he get back?" He asked Arya, who was silent. "Arya? How will he get back?"
"It depends. He has two choices."
"What are they?" She did not answer, and Eragon knew that she did not want to answer any more questions.
Darren dropped into the cold river, and felt his breath being ripped from his lungs, he was falling through the water. Finally, he could draw in air, and realized that he had stopped falling and was now idly floating in a river equally as cold. He pushed his legs down until he felt the bottom, and shuddered when the soft mud at the river bottom swirled around his ankles, it felt like skeletal fingers. Darren looked at his surroundings; he was standing in a large waist-deep river that had ice around the edges, there were several souls floating in the river with frost on their hair and eyelashes. He shivered from the cold and looked up, there was nothing but a huge, black abyss above him. Looking forward, he noticed he had landed just before the second gate, which saved him from the sloppiness of first deads. He had only heard about what it was like down here from Breo, the souls who didn't want to be dead, and had a tendency to try to steal your living body. Darren started walking downstream towards a large, black shadowy gate. The current picked up a bit; two large guardians sat on either side of the doors. Their heads were large with horns protruding right above the red eyes. Their gaping mouths were open, long white tongues hanging out of their mouths, hungry for stray souls. Their bodies were like snakes, but they had two large arms with sharp talons jutting out of the massive fingers. The guardians turned and looked directly at Darren, who gulped and stared defiantly back.
"You are here for the female Shur'tugal, no?" One of them asked in a deep, gravely voice like it had never talked before. He nodded feebly, and it let out a barking laugh, making Darren's bones quake.
"You will never make it in time, the current is too fast, she will be past the fourth gate before you even reach the third."
"You could stop her, right?"
"No. We cannot stop her we can slow the currant almost to a halt."
"Why don't you?" The guardian sneered, showing all it's yellow teeth.
"What would we gain?"
"I'll make you a deal." It sneered again and licked its lips.
"We will slow the currant as much as we can, if you're in the fourth gate for more than a minute your soul is ours, and so is hers."
"What if I reach her before the fourth?"
"You will not so don't count on it."
"What if I do!"
"Then you are free to go. Do we have a deal?" Darren thought it over, he could leave now, and tell Murtagh that he couldn't get to her into, but Darren couldn't do that. He knew that Murtagh wouldn't be the same, he wouldn't either if he lost her, it was his fault too. He had to say yes.
"Yes. We have a deal." The guardian laughed again and whipped its tongue around his arm, leaving a long, deep gouge.
"You'd better run." It growled, and Darren heeded, he went as fast as he could, his feet often got stuck in the mud but he kept going. Finally he reached the third gate, two more of the guardians watched him, and didn't say anything. He passed the soul of a small girl with large, brown eyes who was looking straight at him. Darren averted his gaze from her for a minute, but looked back and saw she was smiling feebly.
Finally he reached the fourth gate and looked around, the river was barely moving, all the souls were drifting by slowly, but none of them were Sira.
"You just missed her." The guardian hissed, Darren nodded and ran into the gate, the Guardian started to count down. He looked around and saw a soul that looked like Sira, he ran towards it as fast as he could.
"Thirty-one, thirty, twenty-nine" The guardian counted, he cursed and ran even faster the reached the soul, and realized it wasn't Sira.
"Damnit!" He shouted, and then looked out the gate, he saw a familiar form stand up in the water, curls falling around her waist, it was Sira.
"Twenty-Five, twenty-four, twenty-three." The guardian continued.
"Sira!" He shouted, and began to run back to her.
"Darren, hurry!" She said, her voice sounded far off, and almost not the same.
"Twelve, eleven, ten, nine." Darren was almost through the gate now. "Five, four, three, two" He had just ran through the gates at two, the guardian stopped counting, and was once more silent. Darren kept running until he reached Sira, he held out his hand and pulled her against his chest. She didn't resist, but felt cold and she was certainly wet. Her lips were purple and her skin was pale, her cheeks were a sickly blue color. He looked into her normally azure eyes, but they were now almost white. He turned and glared at the guardian.
"You're a liar! You said I just missed her!"
"No, I didn't mean she had passed through the gates. You walked right by her." He turned away from the guardian, and stared at Sira who was looking up at him blankly.
"Thank you." She said softly, she blinked and a tear fell from her eye, but turned into ice on her cheek. He brished the frost off the ends of her lashes and her lips.
"Eitha." He said simply, and felt himself being sucked through the icy waters. He held onto Sira as tight as he could, but she was still slipping out of his grasp, she moved her arms and wrapped them around his waist. He shuddered at how cold she was, and felt himself land in the much warmer Edda River.
Opening his eyes, Darren saw Murtagh running through the water, he looked around and saw Sira sink under the water. He dove under and wrapped his arms around her waist, then dragged her above the surface. Murtagh plucked her out of Darren's arms, the gash on it from the guardian's tongue had bled onto Sira's shirt.
"Is she alive? Did everything go alright?" Darren nodded feebly, and stumbled onto the shore. He was on his knees, with Arya kneeled down next to him.
"How did you get that cut?"
"Guardian." He mumbled, and then fell on his back. "I'm going to go to sleep now…" Arya nodded, then covered him with her blanket((while he was in death or whatever she had brought it over)). Nadia was whining at Darren, and was trying to lay on his chest but Arya wouldn't let her, she finally settled for wrapping herself around him as much as she could.
Saphira had held out a large claw to stop Euraus from running into the river after Sira, and Eragon had joined Murtagh in the water.
"She isn't breathing!" He called to Arya, Murtagh swore and looked at the elf. Suddenly Sira gasped and opened her eyes, she looked around and spotted Eragon standing next to her.
"Where's Murtagh?" She choked out.
"Right here." He said, she turned her attention up towards him and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I'm sorry…" She murmured then closed her eyes and laid back down. Eragon and Murtagh could both hear her shallow breaths, Murtagh sighed with relief and walked towards shore. He set her down gently on the grass, Euraus wriggled around Saphira and pounced on Sira, he laid his head on hers and started to hum.
What's he doing? Eragon asked Saphira.
Comforting himself. Eragon grabbed her blanket and covered her with it, Arya was sitting with Darren mending his arm.
"Do you want me to heal that?" Eragon asked.
"You can't, he got it from a guardian."
"A what?"
"A guardian, they guard the gates of death. Most likely they stole part of his essence and that's why it will not heal."
"So he's just going to bleed to death?"
"No, I didn't say that. The cut will be open, so we have to keep a bandage on it. Also, we should get a fire going because if you haven't noticed, Sira is freezing." Eragon looked over at Murtagh, who was brushing her curls off Sira's face. He looked over at Darren who was shivering a little bit, he had a little frost still hanging on his hair. Sira's cheeks were blue, and so were her lips.
"It's gone." Murtagh said.
"What is?"
"Her necklace, the twins took it!"
"At least Sira and Darren are alive."
"Yes, but still." he said sadly, and Arya moved over to him thenput her hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry, we can go find them once Sira and Darren are better." She said with a smile, Murtagh nodded in return and laid down next to Sira. Eragon dropped sticks in between where Sira and Darren were laying, then lit them on fire((Brisingr)).
"In the morning me and Saphira will go out and look for them." Eragon offered.
"Thanks." Murtagh said, and then laid down on his back, and drifted into an uneasy sleep.
A/N: sigh sorry that didn't have much detail, I was writing it over like a LONG time so I kinda forgot to add them in, but that's ok because my chapter is in now. YAY FOR ME!-does happy dance- and the ending was weak but that's ok .;; right?
Oh by the way, "Súndavar ikona né huildr wiol ono, atra eka vant onr grind" roughly means "Death is no hold for you, let me pass through your gates." K? And "eitha" means go or leave, "brisingr" means fire but I'm sure you already knew that XD…Please don't kill me if súndavar ikona né huildr wiol ono, atra eka vant onr grind is structured wrong or anything, figuring out the grammar of the ancient language is difficult for me-has grammatical problems-