A/N Hello people! Second update of 2005! Well, survived my first week back at Mordor, and now is update time!
Chapter 32- Across The Hadarac Desert
It had been decided they would cross the Hadarac Desert and hopefully seek out the Varden on the other side of it. The lands beyond the immense Desert were uncharted on the map that Jeod had given to Brom back in Teirm. The Empire's arm did not stretch across that vast plain to whatever lands may be beyond it. It had all been one kingdom once, when the Riders had ruled. But if Galbatorix could reform the Dragon Riders and get them on his side, he would have no problem claiming whatever lay out of his reach for his kingdom.
Eragon, with the help of Gimli and Saphira, had found away -with much trial and error- of getting water while on the blistering heat of the desert. He was able to summon forth the moisture from the earth from deep down using magic, so they would not die of thirst. It had been Gimli, when he sat scraping his axe through the dirt to reveal that, deeper down, the ground was indeed moist.
They had also found away of transporting the She-Elf who still had not woken. It had been Saphira's unexpected idea. But it worked effectively. She could not be carried on Saphira's back anymore because of the sores she would get on her legs where Saphira's scales had rubbed. Neither could she ride on the ground, it would be too dangerous, especially if they were attacked. Though they had done a pretty good job of covering their tracks by travelling in zigzags so that if they were been trailed, those pursuing them would get confused. It was time consuming and they made slow progress but it was worth it, just to be safe.
So, the solution was that the She-Elf could be tied to Saphira's belly, that way the dragon would be able to move freely and the Elf would be safe.
-:0:-
It had been three days since Eragon's escape from Gil'ead. Now they had come to the Ramr River. Since there was no safe shallow place to cross, Saphira was to carry then over the broad river. Horses and all.
'Are you sure you can carry them?' Eragon asked her, referring to the horses.
'Of course. As long as they do not struggle too much it should not be too difficult,' she replied.
Eragon asked Murtagh and Legolas about this idea.
"If it is the only way, then Loshîth will consent," Legolas agreed, placing a calming hand over the horse's forehead.
Murtagh however, was not so willing. "Are you certain there is no other way?" when the answer came back confirmatory, he sighed. "Very well. Tornac will not take kindly to this at all though. Please be careful with him Saphira. I've had him along time and I don't want anything to happen to him now."
'Tell him all will be well, I will be as careful as I can with Tornac. Don't worry,' Saphira said to Legolas who then relayed what she had said to Murtagh.
Finally, the young man nodded his consent, "Let me go over first, I'll watch the horses on the other side," he said scrambling onto Saphira's back. "Please be careful with him," he said one last time. Saphira rolled her eyes and took off with Murtagh on her back and the She-Elf attached to her belly.
When she returned for Tornac, the She-Elf had been removed. Tornac snorted in fright as he was led over to Saphira. Legolas spoke softly to him in his own tongue to try to sooth him. Placing a slim hand over his eyes and whispering to him gently. Tornac's low whining stopped. Until Saphira reared up on her back haunches to grasp the horse around the middle with her forelegs. Tornac snorted with fear and tried to bolt when Saphira's forelegs clamped around him. She held himm tightly and jumped skyward, her hind legs thrusting with such force that her claws gouged the rocks underneath. Her wings strained furiously, struggling to lift the horse. Then with a lunge, she shot up into the air. Tornac screamed in terror, wildly thrashing and trying to get free.
Legolas, who had been watching the struggle, turned his attention behind him. he caught the flash of torches in the inky blackness of the night and a line of horsemen sliding down a buff almost a league away. Tornac's neighing had no doubt attracted their most unwanted attention.
Next to go was Snowfire. Saphira gripped hold of the animal and lifted him off, ignoring his furious neighing. Next to go was Loshîth, far more compliant than the other two had been, and with a soft word from Legolas, he consented to be carried across the river with minimum fuss. Though he still raged furiously and shifted uneasily in her grip. And still the Elf had to keep an eye on the horsemen that were fast approaching. The sooner all of them were over, the better.
Next to go was Eragon. And then all that was left was the Elf and the Dwarf. And Gimli took this opportunity to talk to Legolas away from everyone else. "What's on your mind Elf?" he asked casually nothing Legolas' distracted look.
"Right now? The line of horsemen that are fast approaching," Legolas replied, never taking his eyes away from the lights that burnt away off. "Com Gimli, we shall ride together, no more time can be wasted I fear."
Saphira dropped to the ground again and Gimli and Legolas climbed onto her back and were off, landing next to the others on the opposite bank of the Ramr River. They found Murtagh had had to tie Tornac down to stop him from bolting and Eragon was struggling to hold onto the other over excited horses.
Once the horse had calmed down, the company mounted their steeds and continued their journey to the Hadarac Desert. They would make foe the Beor Mountains, then cut through them and from there try to locate the Varden who they knew hid on the other side away from the Empire.
By the time the sun had come up, the Ramr River was nothing but a faint line on the horizon. Soon the ground became softer and they were met with a vast expanse of sandy plain dotted with dunes. They had reached the Hadarac Desert.
The trek across the Desert was hard going. The blistering sun beat down mercilessly on their backs and sand blew up into their faces. Tempers were fraying rapidly.
Murtagh hardly said a word to anyone; he remained distant and moody with the rest of the company. Gimli was equally as grumpy, not used to the heat of the Desert and it was probably hardest for him to even attempt to keep cool too. Eragon just managed to keep his temper in check, though his sun burn on his face and the back of his neck was giving him hell.
They only ones that did not seem to be bothered by the heat were Legolas and Saphira.
The Elf did not feel temperatures as humans did so it did not bother him too much. Though his face was tinged a slight pink where he had caught the sun. Saphira however, revelled in the desert heat. It gave her energy and she could quite happily have stayed there.
They still had the worry of been followed by the Empire though. There was no doubt in any of their minds that Galbatorix must have alerted the Ra'zac by now about Eragon's escape from Gil'ead. He Ra'zac, though probably many leagues behind still, would eventually catch up with them if they did not keep up a quick pace. Especially if they were mounted on their winged steeds.
At least Eragon had been able to provide water for the horses and the rest of the company. Saphira gouged a small pit in the cracked dry ground and Eragon and Legolas took it in turns to refill it with water. Eragon had explained his idea to Legolas and the Elf had caught on quite quickly so now they both were able to provide the cool, much needed liquid from the earth.
By sun set on the forth day they had covered roughly thirty-five leagues. They set up camp in the thin shade cast by the towering stone bluffs. Water was provided, then they settled down for some much needed sleep. All except Legolas and Gimli who still sat by the fire that had burned low.
Gimli sat huddled in his cloak, wrapping up against the cool desert night, staring in the direction of the She-Elf. He was concerned about her and he told Legolas so. "It has been almost a week. Yet she lies as one dead- a corpse. What do you think is wrong with her Legolas?"
"I can not say Gimli. I am no healer; my skills are limited compared to some. I have not the skills to revive her. Perhaps she sleeps because she does not wish to wake and find she is still in Gil'ead, facing whatever torture they put upon her. or there could be something more working against her, poison for example," replied Legolas.
"I can think of one who would be able to help, if only he were here now," said Gimli.
"Yes, Aragorn was always skilled in those arts. Though after being raised in Rivendell instructed by Lord Elrond who would not be? Alas, I would that he were here now!" Legolas sighed.
"I know. I wonder what he would make of all this," Gimli pondered.
"I should think he would have liked nothing more than to be apart of it!" Legolas smiled at the memory of his friend. "But he has passed on Gimli, as all humans eventually do."
"Yes, and as Dwarfs also must one day," Gimli sighed. "I also am not as young as I used to be."
"Perhaps not. But you still have the fire of a youth in your heart my friend. You are not going anywhere any time soon!" said Legolas.
"And then there are those of us who never age. Whose fire never goes out. They don't have to worry about such trivial things as old age!" said Gimli wryly gazing us at his Elven friend.
Legolas smiled and shook his head. "I feel old at times Gimli. Especially been around you children, now that dose make me feel my age!"
Gimli chuckled softly. "Very well Old Legolas! I am going to sleep now. I except they will want to move out at first light." Legolas agreed and with that they both settled down.
-:0:-
As they left the camp in the morning, a line of dark smudges became visible on the horizon. Though they could not be made out very clearly.
"Legolas, can you see what that is? That hazy outline?" said Gimli as they rode together a top Loshîth.
Legolas shaded his eyes with a slender hand and squinted to make it out in the bright light. "I see broad forest covered mounds. Bases of gigantic mountains, scores of miles wide. Except for the expanse of forest along the lower regions, the mountains are entirely covered with snow and ice." He craned his neck, searching for the peaks, but they were not visible. "They stretch up into the sky until they fade beyond my sight. I see narrow jagged valleys with ridges that nearly touch split the mountains like deep gouges. There is no end to them!" he said in amazement.
When they drew closer, the others were also able to make some of what Legolas was seeing none of them could quite grasp how large they were.
"You would be able to hide the Varden, the Elves and a good many Dwarves there!" said Gimli in awe. "I have not seen anything of such splendour in a while!"
"They are not too far off either! It will be good to get out of this forsaken heat and into some shade! Spend a few weeks at leisure where we can rest and recover," said Murtagh his morel lifting.
By the time evening descended the mountains foothills were a mere league away. Herds of gazelle bounded through the lush fields of grass, which Saphira eyed hungrily.
They made camp there and sat around the fire congratulating each other on their successful crossing of the Hadarac Desert.
A/N There you go. Hope you all like! Next chapter we should learn a little more about Arya! Yay! then in a few chapters time we get to the really good stuff, you guys know what I'm on about right?
Reviewers
TrekieGreenieShannaraElfOfME- Excellent! Sounds like a good plan to me! Mordor will be easy to take, on account as it's desolate now! Hmm, I think Gondor and Rohan will be kind of difficult, but if we amass a big enough army, we shouldn't have any problems. Mirkwood is taken care of, we'll random Legolas. Ooh wait, I know how we can get Gondor! We'll kidnap Eldarion! Aragorn surely won't be able to choose between his son and his kingdom. Yup, think Valinor will take a lot more work, on account of we're talking about over throwing the Valar, we're talking Manwë here! You know what they did to Morgoth! Yup, you go study the maps and get back to me with the plans of attack!
Dragon-miko- Arrg, tell me about it! Stupid Mordor. Anyways, glad you liked!
Xiad Rusco- Yeah, she'll be fine. Next chapter I'm looking forward to. I can begin playing around with my plans for the Arya situation!
Tim, Digdestined of Loyalty- Really? OMG thank you so much! I love my reviewers, they are so nice!
Lestatlover1784- Hey! Yay, choccy biccys! Nobody touches the biscuits! Lol. Yeah, you have to update yours to! And yay! I see you have your HP one up. Excellent! Going to go read that now. Laters!
Zammy- Thanks!
Moonyasha- I do still have my account, just haven't been on it for erm… ages. My user name is legolasismyelfboy (don't ask, my friend registered me.) Hmmm, they suffer do they, well mine has been suffering for ages. Oh well!
I like my reviewers; I have a nice bunch of you guys! You lot really make my day when I go to check my emails and read all the lovely things you guys say! (ok… that was sentimental…) but it's true!
Anyways
Sidh ed
Lolly pop