A/N Hey guys! Ready for the next chapter, this one is kind of sad but I find this chapter in the book quite sweet. Enjoy!
Reviewers
dragon-miko- I know, I so cried at that part in the book! It's so sad! :sniff, sniff: peace!
Manders1953- Thanks. 'Namárië' is farewell in Quenya I think and so I used 'Navaer' which (according to the Council of Elrond) is farewell in Sindarin, so that's where I got that from. Glad you liked that chapter though, thanks!
TrekieGreenieShannaraElfOfME- Yup, I love that song too, I think it's my favourite out of all of the soundtracks. Hey, I'll have to remember that song that never ends another thing to drive my friend nuts! Mwhahahaha, excellent! Give Legolas to the fan girls? Erm… not possible, I think Legolas just took a dive from the highest bungee jump in New Zealand without a rope attached to his feet. Poor Legolas!
Xiad Rusco- Thank you so much, hope you enjoy your cookie! I know, I hated that last chapter, I'm sad now, I don't get to write about my fave Eragon character anymore.
Twilight Unicorn- Thank you! I know, I've been reading ahead a bit, some things 9i can't wait to write like when they all go to Farther Dur, and other things like I think the next few chapters I'm thinking 'arrg, that's not so great, sniff sniff…' I think this is the longest piece of writing I've ever done, I never thought I'd get to chapter 27 or have so many lovely reviewers and stuff! Thank you, I'm terrible of keeping track of what's written, so thank you so much for the offer! And I'm really glad you like this!
Ellie- Thanks! Yup, definitely the worst part when Brom died! Legolas… he's not badly hurt (I don't think) but you'll find out more about what happened to him in this chapter. Yeah, Elvish is the most beautiful sounding language ever isn't it? Hannon le mellon nin an milui peth lín! (Thank you my friend for your kind words).
Moonyasha- Your welcome!
Wow, 184 reviews, thank you all so much!
Oh 16 DAYS TILL ROTK EE DVD, AND 27 DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS!!!
Chapter 27- Where Do We Go From Here?
HERE LIES BROM
WHO WAS A DRAGON RIDER
AND LIKE A FATHER
TO ME
MAY HIS NAME LIVE ON IN GLORY
Eragon finished carving his farewell into the headstone he had commissioned from the sandstone then stood back up to rejoin the rest of his friends.
They had buried Brom at the top on the crown of the sandstone hill formation. Murtagh and Legolas had bourn him to his final place of rest while Eragon and Gimli followed behind, Eragon bearing the old man's sword.
They all gathered around the tomb, heads bowed in lamentation. This was life, life comes to all of us and can also be taken away from each of us. The time you had was brief yes, in the measure of all the ages passed, but loss was still difficult.
Legolas stood among them in confusion. He had seen much death in all his long years of being a warrior, but it was perhaps the thing he had the most trouble trying to understand. But then he supposed being an Elf, he was not meant to. He would never know what it would be like to simply give into life as all mortals eventually do, as he remembered his friend Aragorn had, it was not all that long ago it seemed to him. he would never know death unless he met it at the end of a sword or some other unnatural way. Still, death was a thing that baffled him.
Gimli and Murtagh eventually left to go back to the cave, leaving Eragon and Legolas alone on the hilltop. "I don't believe he's actually gone," Eragon muttered after a time.
Legolas did not quite know how to reply. "I know. It is strange," he finally replied, furrowing his brow.
"And I don't believe he was a Dragon Rider, all this time and now he tells me when I still have so many questions I want to ask. When I next encounter the Ra'zac, I will kill them," Eragon said bitterly.
"The Ra'zac are strong. Do not look for trouble Eragon. The Ra'zac are very powerful, and unmerciful," Legolas said coolly.
"I know. Which reminds me, how did you escape them?" Eragon said turning to his friend. "I mean, I saw you Legolas, I saw you and you were… you were dead!"
"What do you mean?" asked Legolas. "Why did everyone th8ink I was dead?"
"Because I scryed you, and you, you were," Eragon took a breath, trying to say this right. "I saw you, you seemed to be chained to a wall and you were, you looked pretty beat up and Legolas, your eyes were closed. You never close your eyes. That's why I thought you were dead. And the Ra'zac only confirmed that. They said horrible things. They said you were weak, they said your death was slow and painful."
To Eragon's immense surprise Legolas chuckled. "Legolas! It is not funny, I seriously thought I'd lost you!" Eragon scolded.
"Eragon, the Ra'zac deal in only lies and fear and hate. When you scried me, I must have been unconscious. True, the Ra'zac did give me a hard time after they caught me."
"Why, did you put up a fight?" asked Eragon.
"In a manner of speaking," Legolas smirked. "After they caught me they drugged me so I could not perform any magic to kill them and escape. Apparently an Elf was something their King would be pleased to have in his possession. But before that, they were determined to save their master some trouble and tried to interrogate me before handing me over. When I would yield nothing of myself, you or Saphira they resorted to Seithr oil," he pulled his cloak aside and rolled back his sleeve to reveal a long burn that stretched from his wrist to his elbow. "What they did not count on was that I am more hardy then they expected. They did not realise that in my time I have experienced worse. It just so happens that my home of Mirkwood was infested with dark, poisonous spiders, their poison is far worse than what the Ra'zac inflicted. Though my body does not appear to react too well to Seithr oil, it is nothing that athelas cannot help. I just will nit be able to use my bow for sometime until it heals."
Legolas laid a hand on Eragon's shoulder. "I am fine now and glad to be back with you all."
"How exactly did you escape?" asked Eragon.
"As the Ra'zac did not count on the strength of my body, they apparently misjudged the dose of the drug that would stop me using magic. However, as soon as I regained consciousness, I found my mind clear again and I could reach the magic, but I was not yet strong enough to be able to contact you or Saphira. I could muster just enough strength to break my bonds and scale the walls of Helgrind. Luckily, the Ra'zac were not there so I had a clean escape. Helgrind is not a good place though, you can mark that!" finished Legolas.
"I am just glad you are back. But we have more help now. Murtagh has agreed to go with us," explained Eragon.
"Good, he is a skilled fighter, be sure of that," said Legolas.
"Yes," Eragon agreed. "He's pretty good with a bow too."
"That is well, we will need a skilled archer while I cannot handle a bow," Legolas looked down accusingly at his wounded arm and sighed in frustration before turning and making his way back down to the cave.
Eragon lingered where he was for a while, reluctant to leave Brom here on top of the hill all cold and alone for the night. He bowed his head an whispered a short blessing to Brom in the Ancient Language.
-:0:-
Eragon's sleep was uneasy. He dreamed again of the Elf maid in her cell
Her breathing was irregular, and she shook- whether from cold or pain. In the semi darkness of the cell, the only thing clearly illuminated was her hand, which hung over the edge of the cot. A dark liquid dripped from the tips of her fingers. It was blood.
He woke with a start, sweat pouring from him. he could just make out Legolas' silhouette in the cave mouth in the darkness. He was tending to his wounds the Ra'zac had inflicted upon him. the main one was along his forearm on his right arm, but clearly there were more. He kept a pot of water next to him and another pot containing the athelas. He dabbed at his wounds gingerly with a cloth, watched by Saphira who lay near him. he could just make out her shining eyes in the gloom. Eragon could just make out the looks on both of their faces, he deduced that they were having a conversation and so turned over and tried to go back to sleep. Legolas' hurts must be bad; he said he had lost consciousness at the hands of the Ra'zac. Eragon shuddered.
-:0:-
That morning Eragon awoke to find only himself, Gimli and the horses in the cave. "Where's everyone else?" he asked groggily, stiffly pushing himself up into a sitting position.
"Murtagh went hunting, Legolas went with him as far as I know. Crazy Elf would not lay down and rest. He is injured Eragon, he just refuses to admit how badly. He is stubborn with a will of iron when he wants to be," Gimli sighed. "I speak form experience."
Eragon smirked. Yes, the Elf was stubborn. He refused to give in. "Gimli, I think we should be moving on today."
"Yes, that's what the Elf and boy were talking about. They left me to pack things up. Once we've eaten we leave."
Eragon nodded. "Gimli, I'm going to say farewell to Brom," he said before getting up and exiting the cave.
"As you wish lad," Gimli said rummaging for his pipe and lighting it.
-:0:-
Legolas and Murtagh were walking back to the cave having caught two rabbits. Murtagh had done all the bow work of course, Legolas had been his vigilant eyes and ears, Murtagh had been the Elf's hands.
Murtagh suddenly stopped a little way from the sandstone formation. Legolas did also and sent a curious glance his way. Murtagh took a breath then said rather awkwardly. "I don't like to ask, well, I didn't want to ask Eragon, but we your companion Brom, the Brom?"
"What do you mean?" said Legolas.
"The Brom who helped steal a dragon egg form Galbatorix, and chased it across the Empire, then killed Morzan in a duel? I read the inscription Eragon placed on his headstone, I heard you all call him by that name. Was that truly he?"
Legolas eyed the young man with curiosity. "It was. But tell me, how is it you come by that information for I was under the impression that it was secret. And why exactly were you too trailing the Ra'zac and happened to be there at just the right time?" Legolas asked, pinning Murtagh with one of his piercing gazes. The young man dropped his eyes to the ground. "I am glad that you were there to help my friend's, do not get me wrong. But who are you? And where does your allegiance lie?"
"My allegiance lies to no man," Murtagh replied bluntly. "If you must know, I was running away. I had heard whisperings of a new Rider and figured that the best way to see if they were actually true was to follow the Ra'zac, they would likely be perusing him by order of Galbatorix. Plus, I wish to kill the Ra'zac also."
Legolas noted that he sidestepped one of his questions, giving no explanation to who he was, but Legolas let is go for now.
"So, you are accompanying us on our journey?" asked Legolas continuing to walk.
Murtagh followed. "Yes. But I must warn you, the Empire is searching for me. There will be blood over it eventually."
Legolas nodded. "So I have heard." With that the Elf quickened his pace back to the cave. He believed the boy, though there were many things he did not yet know about him and he till felt cautious of him, Legolas was glad of the help Murtagh would bring. In all truth, Legolas was not quite up to been able to fight yet, though he refused to admit it.
-:0:-
When Eragon reached the top of the hill he sat down on the sun dried ground, tracing his finger through the dusty sandstone.
After a time, Legolas came up and sat next to him. he smiled at the boy a little. "How are you?" he asked.
Eragon smiled back wryly. "Terrible. And you?"
Legolas did not answer. "Murtagh and Gimli are making lunch. We leave after we have eaten."
"So Gimli said, but where do we go from here? Brom never told us," said Eragon down heartedly. He missed the old man so much already.
"No, he told Saphira though. He told her everything. She told me so last night. We must seek out a man called Dormnad who lives in Gil'ead. He can help us find the Varden apparently," explained Legolas.
"Why did no one tell me this before? And why did Brom tell all these things to Saphira and not to me?" said Eragon.
"He knew Saphira would not tell you if she was not asked. She said he told her that things would go smoothly, but he also feared that his death was near and so entrusted pieces of information to Saphira," said Legolas.
"Very well then, we go to Gil'ead, we seek out this Dormnad, and then, I guess we go to find the Varden," said Eragon.
There was a dark shadow over head; they both looked up to see Saphira come to land on the sandstone hill next to them. 'Legolas has told you of the plan to go to Gil'ead?' she asked upon greeting Eragon.
'Yes, he did. We leave after lunch I think,' replied Eragon.
Saphira nodded her great head. Legolas and Eragon stood up and bowed their heads, each paying their last respects to Brom.
Saphira however, snaked out her long neck and touched Brom's tomb with the tip of her nose. A low humming filled the air.
The sandstone around her nose shimmered and turned clear with dancing silver highlights. Eragon and Legolas watched in amazement as tendrils of white diamond twisted over the tomb's surface in a web of priceless filigree. The sandstone began to change, colours streaking through it. When she had finished she stepped back to examine her handiwork.
The sandstone had transformed into sparkling gemstone, under which Brom's face was visible, it looked as though he was just sleeping. 'What did you do?' asked Eragon in wonder.
'I gave him the only gift I could. Now time will let him rest in peace, just as you see him now,' she replied.
'Gerich ehant e alfirin,' Legolas said to her. (You have made him immortal)
'Gurin,' she nodded. (I have)
Eragon felt a tear roll down his face as he gazed upon Brom's seemingly sleeping face. Then they left that hill and their old friend to his eternal rest in his diamond tomb.
A/N Awww, sweet don't you think? That's a good place to stop I think for this week. Next chapter should see some action as we haven't had much of that these passed few chapters, so looking forward to that.
Hope you enjoyed that! Please review, tell me what you think and check back next week for another chapter.
Sîdh ed
Lolly pop