The Fallen Are The Virtous

Chapter One: Dragons be Damned

Rating: T, Mild Language

Summary: Oh, the fallen are the virtous, and this is where Delois, a guard for Galbatorix, finds himself as he flees from both the Varden and the Empire with an unwanted dragon by his side.

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A servant timidly approached the two guards- Both in their early twenties, Delois and his friend Jarn were dressed in the regal clothing their statuses permitted. They stopped the quiet talking, turning to the servant.

The servant was not even a man, being only 13, and quivered as the two superior guards looked at him. But he managed to swallow his fear and slight the knocking of his knees.

"Lunch, sirs, from the royal head cook, Agnes. Sh-she especially wanted me to give you this one, Sir Delois." He bowed quickly, handing them both small bundles of tanned leather before turning and flying down the corridors. Being caught bothering the Egg Keep Guards was something that meant death.

Delois grinned, sitting down and opening his back as Jarn did the same. He untied the knot that held the lunch together, highly surprised as a few grapes near rolled out. But what caught him off guard was the sandwich- Roast beef! He nearly laughed. He had been courting Agnes for months, and it pleased him to know she knew his favorite food by now.

Jarn grunted, looking at his own sandwich, which was mere lettuce, tomato, and a thin slice of cheese and meat. Stealing a glance at his partners, his jaw dropped.

"Delois! You and that girl... Hmmf. I'm your friend, can't you get me a good meal like you always get?" Jarn said, wrinkling his nose as he sniffed his sandwich. "I mean, you even get fruit, plus a good hunk of meat."

Delois laughed, his shaggy dirty blonde hair bouncing as he threw his head bag. His laughs were always like that of a lions. Of course, it was only in the presence in the friends- He was terribly timid around company or people he didn't know. "You'll have to get your own woman, Jarn, to cook something up, and it will never be half as good as whatever Agnes gets me."

He snorted. "Oh, yes, valiant you. You know I'm not good with the ladies." That was an understatement. Jarn was often cynical about little things that annoyed him,(Which was a lot of things) and he had no good looks to perhaps lure someone who just wanted a valiant royal guard. But Jarn was simply too demanding for his plain looks. 'Mud Child', he said he was often called as a child, for everything about him was the color of fresh mud- His skin, his hair, his eyes.

Delois took a large bite of his sandwich, ignoring the fact he looked as civil as a starving dog as he attacked his lunch, finishing it much quicker then Jarn. He was a definite military man at heart, and everything that wasn't fighting was done fast and efficient.

He stood, stretching languidly before leaning against the heavily locked doors of the Egg Keep, letting out a burp before taking the scimitar out of it's sheath and running the sharp blade down his hand. One would think him crazy- But the blade merely made green sparks jump from his hand. Galbatorix himself had infused them both with heavy defensive magic, enough that the one time they actually did get into a scuffle, not even their muscles ached afterward.

"Hey, Jarn, it's cleaning time." He said absent-mindedly, tossing the blade from one hand to the next before finally sheathing it. He then took up his pike as the man next to him stood.

"Aw, dammit, come on... I know King Galbatorix told me specifically to clean the eggs and such, but can't you do it?" He took a bite of his sandwich, continuing even as he began chewing. "You're much better at cleaning then I am." Delois scowled, leaning upon the pike. "What if you get fired?"

"We both have the same title. We do the same things- Could you do it, as a favor for me?"

"Promise I'll get a favor back."

Jarn cursed, but promised it in the few words of the ancient language they did know that wasn't purely offensive commands.

Delois let out one of his signature lion laughs before turning to the door, uttering the words of secrecy that made the latches come off. Slipping inside, he could hear the latches lock behind him as he walked down the sparsely furnished corridor. He had been into the Egg Keep Chamber, but it always made his pulse race and his breath quicken every time he came down. Realization dawned on him that he'd never touched any of the eggs before.

As he pushed the other door open, reveling in the fact that he was one of the few who ever could do this. Walking into the carpeted room, he gave a quick glance at his surroundings- Bookshelves lined with ages-old lore, magical items in a large trunk, a huge tapestry of a black wyrm- before having his eyes settle on the two eggs that settled on a red satin pillow.

One would think they were there for the picking- But Delois knew better. He walked over to the eggs, and before laying a finger on them, placed a hand on his heart, the other hovering two feet above the eggs.

"May thee strike me down if I do harm to these dragons." He mumbled in the ancient language, before tentatively reaching down and picking up the first egg- It was an emerald in color, with veins of a dark shade of forest green. Gingerly cradling it in his arms, he pointed a finger at the egg. "Adurna," He could feel the odd sensation as the water was taken from the air, everywhere around him before it accumulated into a small blob, gathering slowly in size. "Blöthr, reisa du adurna!" The water ball stopped growing, holding itself in place as he commanded it. "Jierda skulblaka." The blob of water fell onto the egg he held out, and with more commands of the ancient language, he efficiently was able to clean it of any dust or cobwebs it had gained.

It was in a matter of minutes before he had the other egg in his grasp. This egg was talked little about- It had said to have been around for longer then most could imagine, and had yet to open to anyone others touch or Galbatorix's magic. Most thought it dead, or perhaps retarded, but Delois cleaned the light black egg with the same care as the other.

It scared the shit out of him when he dropped the egg on the pillow, only to have it crack open.

The birthing of the dragon was not what he expected- The dragon broke through the shell with haste and ease, ivory claws swiping the shells and thin membrane that held it together. It then proceeded to lick the egg-membrane that covered it's thin body, stretching it's wings, then turning it's smokey eyes upon Delois.

He quickly emptied the wonderful roast beef he had eaten onto the carpet, his stomach clenching so harshly he thought it was doubling in upon itself. Everything before his eyes was becoming fuzzy, but the soldier grasped onto consciousness and held it tightly.

"My life is gone." He whispered, his voice rough with emotion as he looked at the dragon, whom had now crept gracefully from it's perch. It's body seemed too thin, too snake-like; And even though it look feminine, Delois could not deny it was a male dragon.

The thing came towards him, pressing it's snout against his bare forearm. Once again, pain and emotion shot through him, making his breath come out in ragged gulps as he clung tightly to the fraying thread that was consciousness. Then it was over, and the dragon crooked a brow at him, but made no other move then to dig it's claws into his skin and scrabble up onto his plated shoulders.

Delois stood, and the dragon kept perfect balance on his shoulder. He stumbled towards the door, wiping the vomit from his mouth and beard. He needed to get out of here- In this surge of emotions, he knew that the two human instincts would always apply, and flight was what he would take.

"Jarn!"