A/N Hey everybody! Another update as i have to go back to school tomorrow. (NOOOO!!! I don't want to go to Mordor, it's evil I tell you! EVIL!). So enjoy.
Reviewers
Fuji the Hobbit- Thanks
Dragon-miko- Yay! Sugar! Sugar is good.... I guess you'll just have to read on to find out if they stay or not.
DaAlCh- Thank you so much for telling me what happens! I can't wait till Eldest comes out! That has also given me a ton of ideas to what will happen in the first chapter at least (though I'll have to wait for the book to come out before writing the sequel, hopefully I will have finished this one by then!) As for how Legolas and Gimli get out of Alagaësia...
Moonyasha- Yay! You think my story rocks? Thank you so much!
119, thanks, I love you guys!
Chapter 18- Of Tough Decisions And Not Getting Caught
"We are not leaving Alagaësia. Not until all this is done and we see you through it to whatever end," said Legolas, turning back to Eragon. In those few seconds he had made his decision, and it was resolute. "I was close to leaving though. So close..."
"What changed your mind?" asked Eragon.
"Many things," replied Legolas. "For one Angela and Solembum, another was Saphira. But even all of them combined together still left me trapped in my longing for the sea. It was you that changed my mind. Just now in fact."
Eragon didn't know what to say at this. So he remained silent.
"It is almost dawn. Come, let us go and get breakfast. After, we will begin your teaching which I am informed you began yesterday in my absence. Brom has a plan brewing, and he will put it into affect soon I think," said Legolas
-:0:-
Eragon found he had a thoroughly more enjoyable day than the previous. Legolas was far more patient then Brom and soon Eragon was reading almost fluently. His chosen reading material was the first book he had picked up, A History of Alagaësia; he leafed through the pages, now been able to read most of it, asking for Legolas' help when he got stuck.
"Look at this, it tells all about the Dragon Riders," said Eragon reading through it slowly. "Listen to this:
Dragon Riders have existed since the treaties between the Dragons and the Elves were first signed. They, for a period of time, only existed as a link of com-uni, Legolas what does this say?"
He peered over Eragon's shoulder. "Communication," he corrected.
"Right, thanks," he started reading again from where he left off. "Between the Dragons and the Elves to make sure war didn't break out again. As time passed, the Dragon Riders became more recognized for their power and were given even more authority. Before Galbatorix's reign of terror, the Dragon Riders were even more powerful than all the kings in Alagaësia. During Galbatorix's reb- Legolas?"
"Rebellion," Legolas corrected again.
"Ok. The Dragon Riders tried to unite and bring him down but his evil was too strong, and he slayed all of the Dragon Riders who apposed him. With Morzan and the other twelve forsworn, he was able to take over Alagaësia bringing an end to the Dragon Riders"
"All of this we already know, Brom told us," said Legolas when Eragon had finished.
"I know, this just caught my attention though. Galbatorix sounds like a really mean person though, I know we already knew that, but seeing it down on paper in a book, you know?" Eragon tried to explain.
Legolas nodded. "I know what you mean."
They carried on until lunch time when Eragon decided to take a break and go see Saphira. Brom came into the study and plopped down in a chair next to Legolas.
"Thanks for taking the boy off my hands for the morning. Gave me and Jeod a chance to get everything in order. We're going to sneak into the records tonight. Want to come?" broom said casually.
"Sounds like fun," Legolas replied idly twirling a lock of hair between his fingers. "What if we are caught?"
"You got your bow handy?" said Brom.
Legolas grinned. "As ever."
The rest of the day was spent idly, Eragon finished up his reading lesson while Brom and Jeod informed him of the nights plans, then Brom sent everyone back to their rooms to get some rest, it was likely to be a long night.
-:0:-
Eragon was tense, they all were. The sun had set a while. Brom was now going over some of the finer points of their mission, making sure everyone knew what they had to do. All were armed. Eragon with his bow, Brom with his sword and staff, Jeod had a elegant rapier with a leather pouch. Gimli had his trusty axe and Legolas his bow and knife. Brom, observing Jeod's choice of weapon, scoffed. "If you came up against a broadsword that little stick wouldn't stand much of a chance would it?"
"I know how to use it well enough, and besides it is much quicker then lugging around your heavy broadsword," Jeod defended himself.
Brom shrugged. "Your funeral."
Jeod scowled at the remark.
-:0:-
They walked through the quiet streets of Teirm as casually as possible. Gimli was happy enough, he did not have o stay behind as they needed all the help they could get.
By the time they reached the castle it was fully dark. Jeod took the lead and strode up to the gates; he pounded on the gate and waited. A small grill slid open and a surly guard peered out. "We need to get in," said Jeod.
"What for?" the guard slurred the small of rum strong on his breath.
"The boy had left something very valuable in my office and we must retrieve it . Will you let us in?" said Jeod. Eragon hung his head in shame, playing along with Jeod.
The guard considered them for a moment. "Not all five of yer, only tow need go. The rest wait here."
Jeod turned to the rest of the company. "What shall we do?" he grit out between his teeth so that the guard could not hear.
"Take Gimli, I can get us in," said Legolas, eyeing the gates thoughtfully.
"How?" asked Jeod.
"No time to explain, we must get in. wait for us by your office, out of sight from any guards. Now go," Legolas quickly explained.
Jeod nodded and the guard unbolted the gate to let the two of them through. "Don' be too long, un'stand?" Jeod nodded and tipped the guard a few coins, he shuffled off back to his drink.
"Jeod, is the guard out of sight and ear shot?" Legolas whispered through the grill.
"Yes, I will meet you by my office, we will go from there. You remember where it is, don't you?" answered Jeod.
"Yes, now go!" Legolas hissed back. Jeod turned and he and Gimli made their way to the agreed meeting point.
"What's in your head Legolas? How can we get in?" asked Brom.
But Legolas was already examining the gate, finding tiny hols that would be enough for his hands and feet to get a good grip, he scaled the gate effortlessly. The next thing Brom and Eragon heard was the faint sound of the Elf's soft feet land on the other side.
They heard the clang of the bolt been drawn back and the gate opened just enough to let them in. Legolas stood smiling. "Thanks..." said Brom, a little in awe.
Eragon smirked, the wonders of the Elves never seized to amaze him!
"Come, we must get to Jeod and Gimli, unnoticed. Be very quiet," said Legolas pressing his finger to his lips.
They found Jeod and Gimli innocently standing by Jeod's office. When Jeod saw them he raised his eyebrows. "That was quick, how did you get in?"
"Legolas climbed over the gate and let us in the other side," Eragon quickly explained.
Jeod looked admiringly at the Elf for a moment then turned and started to head for the room where the records were kept, calling the others to follow him. "And stay quiet, any sign of guards and..." he trailed off unsure of what they would do if they were confronted with a group of armed soldiers.
They hurried on to their destination, always listening out for the sound of approaching guards. When they reached the records room Brom put his hand against the door, muttering words of power and it clicked open. Grabbing a torch form the hallway, Brom led them into the room.
It was filled with wooden racks pilled high with scrolls. Jeod ran his eyes over the racks before calling them all to the back of the room. "Here are the shipments records for the past five years, start form the top and work your way down. The scrolls that only deal with taxes you can ignore. Look for any that mention Seithr oil. And write down whatever you find so that we can keep track," he laid some parchment, ink and a quill.
They each grabbed a pile of scrolls, slumped down on the floor and began to read through the cramped script of a human hand. Eragon found this much more difficult as he was used to reading print. They managed to get through quite a lot in a short amount of time and whittled their search down considerably by only looking for the names of ships that sailed to the northern areas.
Legolas tapped Eragon on the shoulder and indicated they should stand, moving away form the others making it look as though they were going to get more scrolls. Eragon looked up to see a small boy crouched on the windowsill. He had shaggy black hair and slanted eyes making him look thoroughly wild.
"It is Solembum," Legolas said quietly so only Eragon could hear.
"Are you sure?" Eragon squinted at the small boy. "He looks- different."
'Well they don't call me a werecat for nothing you know,' came the reply in Eragon's head in the voice of Solembum.
"He says that the guard who let us in has just informed his replacement that we are in the castle. The second official of the Empire has sent soldiers to search for us," Legolas explained quickly.
'Yes boy, so if I were you I'd scarper!' Solembum warned.
"I hear them, they are close, we much hurry," said Legolas suddenly urgent.
'It would be wise to go now,' Solembum prompted. Then he vanished through the window.
Eragon and Legolas turned and hurried back between he racks to where the others still sat leafing through the scrolls. "Soldiers are coming!" Eragon said.
"What?" said Brom getting to his feet. "How do you know?"
"I can hear them, they draw near," Legolas filled in. "We must hurry! They have more than likely already discovered Jeod's office is empty.
"Legolas, how close are they? Can you tell?" Brom asked sharply, grabbing another scroll.
"Close enough. They ill be here in a while, a few minutes perhaps. I hear the clinking of their armour- coming up the stairs. Brom, if they catch us here-"Legolas said unwilling to think right now of the possibilities should they be discovered.
"They'll be the devil to pay, I know!" Brom then turned to Jeod who, hearing the conversation sped up his reading as did Gimli. "Jeod, how much have we to get through?"
"Done!" Jeod said triumphantly, shoving his bundle of scrolls back on the rack and scribbling down a few things on the piece of parchment before shoving it, the ink and the quill into the inside of his jacket.
Once the room was back in order and all was left as it was found, the company made their hasty exit. Just as the door closed behind them, Legolas had no need to alert them as a troop of soldiers reached the end of the corridor. Brom quickly muttered a few words and the door clicked indicating that it was now locked, just as the soldiers rounded the corner and were met with the five.
Legolas had no time to fling his hood up as the head guard came to inspect them. He prayed the ponytail would mask his pointed ears. The guard peered at them in them in the light of his torch. "What you lot doing down here? You shouldn't be down here, and come away from that door there!" he barked at Brom before turning his attention back to the others. "And I thought there was only s'pose to be two of yer, where the other three come from eh?"
"I am terribly sorry my good sir, it would appear that we have lost our way, an honest mistake in the dark wouldn't you agree?" said Jeod, his voice shook with nervousness.
The soldier narrowed his eyes. "Check the room," he ordered.
One guard stepped from behind and tried to open the door. "it's locked sir!" he replied.
This brought the guard back to one of his original questions. "Why are there the three of yer down here? It was reported there was only two."
"No sir, we were all granted permission to enter the castle," lied Jeod.
"Hmm," the guard thought about this for a moment. "I s'pose, mind you, the guard on duty had had a fair bit to drink," he mumbled to himself looking over the companions once more. Legolas tried to shift in front of Gimli to conceal him while this interrogation was taking place. Pushing the dwarf out of reach of the soldier's torch light, but they were noticed. "Here, who are you? You a bit small, you a kid?" the soldier asked. "You got a beard! You can't be a kid, what are you?" he said, thrusting his toch forwards.
"No my good sir, the poor old fellow is old- wizened by age he is," said Brom redirecting the unwanted attention to himself. Legolas relaxed a littler and Eragon let out a breath of relief he wasn't even aware he was holding.
"Right, well, I guess you lot are free to go, come on. I'll lead you back out," said the soldier.
"Hannon Illúvater," Legolas breathed. But he had been heard. The guard turned to him sharply.
"What you say?" he asked shinning the torch in Legolas' face, illuminating his hair in the fire light. "here, you're a stranger you are!" the guard reached out to touch Legolas' flowing locks only to have his hand fiercely swept away by the Elf. "Where you from?"
"Not form around here," Legolas answered, trying to keep his temper with insolent human in check.
"Yeah but where?" the guard persisted.
"Far off land, doubt you would have heard of it. Shall we go?" Brom said quickly taking the lead.
The guard nodded and led the way.
-:0:-
"That was close!" Eragon sighed once they were safely back in Jeod's study. "But at least we got what we wanted!" he said more cheerfully.
"Yes, but let us hope that it was worth our trouble," said Jeod, taking a map of Alagaësia from a shelf and spreading it on the desk. On the left side of the map was the ocean which extended into the unknown West. Along the coast stretched the Spine, an immense length of mountains. The Hadarac Desert filled the centre of the map, but the east end blank, this was where the Varden hid. To the south was Surda, a small country which had broke away form the Empire after the Rider's fall, apparently Surda secretly supported the Varden. Near Surda's eastern boarders was a mountain range called the Beor Mountains. But the map was empty east of the mountains. Five islands rested off the coast of Surda: Nía, Parlim, Uden, Illuim and Beirland which was the largest and had a small town. Near Teirm was an island called Shark Tooth and just up from that Vroengard- home of the Riders, or it was once. Eragon noted Carvahall, a small dot on the immense map. Almost level with it to the eat was Du Weldenvarden. The forest was wilder than the Spine and its east end was unmapped. Parts of its western edge had been settled, but its heart lay mysterious and unexplored. And there lay Urû-baen in the centre of the Empire, there King Galbatorix ruled with his black dragon Shruikien.
Brom and Jeod discussed possible citied the Ra'zac may be hiding, looking over the parchment Jeod had taken from his jacket and pointing to the different places on the map. They were mainly discussing cities to the south and found that Gil'ead was the most likely place.
"What about cities to the south?" Gimli piped up. "The lost we made does not illuminate them. Look here," he said laying a chubby finger on the map, "These here- Kuasta and Arough, they seem to isolated. But look at these two," he laid a finger on Belatona and Dras-Leona which were rather close together. "I personally would try Belatona first-"
"Dras-Leona," Legolas cut in.
"What? Why do you say that Elf?" said Gimli.
"I am not entirely sure, from the map it looks to be the larger of the two," Legolas answered, furrowing his brow.
"Legolas is right," said Jeod. "Dras-Leona is the larger city and that's where almost all of the goods of the Empire pass through one time or another, including Teirm's. Plus, it would be a good place for the Ra'zac to hide. Have a look at the records," he pulled the piece of parchment towards him. "Ah yes, look. Three shipments of Seithr oil all were sent to Dras-Leona at the beginning of the year, each was two weeks apart too. Same thing happened last year, and the year before that. I doubt any group of jewellers would be able to afford that much."
"Dras-Leona then it is!" Brom announced. "But are you sure about Gil'ead?"
"Yes, they have only received two shipments of the oil in recent years. And what about Helgrind?" said Jeod pointing out the figures on the parchment.
"Ah, the Dark Gate," said Brom nodding knowingly. "Dras-Leona than."
"You best take this old friend," said Jeod, rolling up the map and handing it to Brom. "No doubt your adventures will take you far and wide, you will need it more than I ever will. It's strange; it feels like I should be going with you."
"I know Jeod, but you have a life here, a house, a business, a wife," Jeod scowled at this last remark. "And you are getting old. I think you have had your quota of adventures in your lifetime," said Brom gently.
"Huh! You can talk old man!" Jeod remarked. Brom laughed lightly at the barb.
"Yes well, what have I got to loose?" Brom answered. "My road goes ever on!"
"Will it ever end?" said Jeod.
"I see it ending, but not for a while yet..." Brom lit his pipe and they all tramped off to bed.
Legolas assumed his position, sitting on Eragon's windowsill as the boy climbed into bed to settle down. "Legolas," he said sleepily, stifling a yawn. The Elf turned to the boy. "Do you see Eärendil tonight?"
"No, alas, for still it does not shine upon Alagaësia," replied Legolas softly.
"Legolas," Eragon said laying his head down as his eyelids began to droop. "I'm glad you chose to stay."
"As am I," said Legolas.
"I don't think I could handle Brom alone in one of his moods," before Legolas could reply Eragon had fallen asleep, and in turn, the sound of the human's gentle breathing lolled the weary Elf to sleep.
A/N Well, another chapter done. Of course I couldn't make them leave! I was just teasing; they really aren't leaving until all the Inheritance trilogy is over.
So please review so I have something to cheer me up when I come home form school and hopefully I can keep updates coming kind of regularly in amongst my school work and stuff (hopefully!)
Laters
Lolly pop