Chapter 27 is here!
Thanks for the reviews and predictions!
I will answer the ones that won't give away anything for the chapter
ManofSteel- Thank you for the flurry of reviews! I agree Kayla was (and still is) A bit if a wild card. Yes, there are more than a few traitors! Also yes, Arya is in a very similar state to when we see her in book 1, this will hurt her later. Yes Kayla will visit Murtagh as some point!
Thank you to Schockburner for the follow!
Time to see if anyone was right!
Let's go!
Eragon's POV
Eragon lay with his eyes closed enjoying how comfortable he felt at that very moment. He wasn't sure what had brought him to consciousness and was seconds from falling back into his dreams when he heard a voice speak to him urgently.
"Eragon"
He groaned and opened his eyes. Kayla appeared in his vison standing at the entrance of the room. Eragon pulled his head up from Arya's chest and a faint redness flushed his face as he realized he had draped his arm around Arya as he slept, holding her close.
"Shadeslayer, you must hurry, Blodhgarm has sent me to find you and tell you that he and Nala plan to meet with you in the council chamber in a quarter-hour and it seems to me you are not at all prepared" She said, her face as stony as ever
Eragon felt slightly bad that it was Kayla that had found them as she did knowing she still had feelings for him. Still, it did not stop him from rising and planting a short kiss upon Arya's brow before reluctantly letting go of her hand.
Her face seemed to tighten some and the hand he had released twitched slightly. He quickly leaned down and whispered in her ear
"I will return as soon as I can" But he wasn't sure if she heard him
Eragon caught a glimpse of envy on Kayla's face as he turned back toward her but made no note of it. It was to be expected that it would take her time to move past everything.
Eragon and Kayla each split ways as Eragon headed for his room.
He changed and bathed quickly before hurrying towards the council chamber.
As Eragon entered the chamber he was reminded how much he hated the room. It was a beautiful and large room with large windows and walls made of white marble but in a circle in the middle of the room sat 6 throne-like chairs. He felt it was too regal and dignified. He preferred more personal interactions to decide matters than political ones, but he had agreed it was necessary. Thankfully Blodhgarm pulled him into a side room where Nala sat at a small table waiting for him.
Nala smiled at Eragon when she saw him, but he sensed a tenseness in her that had not been there yesterday. She looked tired, as though she hadn't slept much the night before. Blodhgarm looked slightly better although his blue fur was matted as though he hadn't properly bathed that morning.
Eragon wished Murtagh could have been there to help their decision but Murtagh and Thorn had taken Bargin and Jakkia on a training mission deep into the forest and were not due to return until tomorrow night.
They each sat and exchanged pleasantries for a few minutes before Eragon grew impatient and spoke to both of them.
"Let's begin, every second we waste is another moment of torture for Arya" he spoke with a slight edge
Blodhgarm's eyes met his and Eragon saw trepidation and concern in his eyes. He looked to Nala who wore a similar expression.
"They are nervous about this conversation" he thought to Saphira
"Or they are nervous about where it will lead" was her reply
Eragon spoke again
"I asked each of you to help decide what our course of action should be going forward. Have you each reached a decision?"
Blodhgarm nodded and Nala stated "I have"
Eragon nodded and gestured to Blodhgarm to speak first
Blodhgarm seemed collect himself and spoke in an emotionless voice
"As you both know, the queen and I are good friends. I have no wish to see another friend die"
He broke off for a moment before continuing
"However, given what we know about the poison and the cost and risk it would take to cure Arya…. I see no other alternative than to help her….find rest" He put delicately
Eragon was about to argue but stopped himself, there would be a time and place to argue once Nala had spoken.
"This is the path you feel is best?" Eragon said, working hard to control his emotions
Blodhgarm looked sympathetic
"I do, I believe it is the only path we can take"
Eragon only nodded and turned to Nala
"What are your thoughts on this matter?"
Nala don't meet his eyes as she spoke
"As much as I hate it, I agree with Blodhgarm, the risks of saving her are too high. Even if an Eldunari sacrifices themselves, any number of things could go wrong and their sacrifice would be meaningless. Better to give her a peaceful death, besides, Arya would never allow another to sacrifice their lives to save hers."
Privately, Eragon agreed with the last part
"Arya would not react kindly to a dragon dying for her" He thought to himself
Blodhgarm had been studying Eragon throughout Nala's explanation and he spoke
"I can tell you disagree with our assessments, Eragon, what do you feel we should do?"
Eragon spoke attempting to control his emotions
"I think we should try to cure her….. If it can be done, then we owe it to Arya to try. Besides we are not only sacrificing her but Firnen will be greatly affected. There is a high chance he decided to follow her into the void if we take the path you suggest"
Blodhgarm continued to stare at him
"Has Firnen offered to sacrifice himself?" He asked quietly
"He has, but I won't allow it. For Arya to wake without her dragon-"
Eragon shuddered at the thought
"Death would be preferable"
"Tell me Ebrithil, what happens if no dragon steps forward to sacrifice themselves? Will you kill an innocent dragon to achieve your desires?"
"I-"
But he stopped
"Would he? Would he kill an innocent dragon to save Arya? Kill an innocent to achieve his desires? How could he face Arya after that? She would hate him! Or Saphira? "
Revulsion filled him as he realized
"How would I be any different than Glabatorix?"
He finally spoke
"No, I don't think I could, But I couldn't live with myself if I didn't try something"
Nala spoke
"I know the depths of your feelings for her Eragon, I know this is the worst thing someone can go through, but this is a decision that needs to be with your head and not your heart. Some part of you knows this or you would not have asked for our help"
Eragon knew she was right, but he hated himself for it. Eragon spoke the hardest sentence he had ever spoken. Every word was a knife in his gut.
"Very well…. We will do as you say"
Eragon knew with these words he had signed his loves death warrant
Blodhgarm nodded and said something about planning the ceremony for tomorrow night but Eragon ceased to listen. He stood suddenly and walked out without saying a word.
He slowly exited the hall and again his feet led the way without thought as he walked. He distantly heard Firnen roar in pain and felt Saphira comforting him through their link. He walked for quite awhile trying to clear his mind.
When he came out of his thoughts, he found he was in a small clearing that he recognized. It was the very same clearing he had shown Arya several years before.
It looked unchanged although in the daytime it was more active with several critters moving around in the clearing. The sun reflected off the water and cast an orange glow on the lilies around him. He sat upon the soft grass and meditated, trying to recenter himself, but every time he did, he would think of what would happen in a few hours' time. He stayed unmoving for so long, night began to fall. He stared across the water trying to avoid the crushing sense of loss that threatened to overwhelm him.
Finally, his resolve broke
"I JUST GOT HER BACK" he screamed into the sky as his emotions finally washed over him
"NOW YOU TAKE HER AGAIN!"
Eragon wasn't even sure who he was yelling at…. (He had long since taken the elven views on the natural world) But all he knew was he was angry, angry at the world, at fate, for all it had put him through
his anger was replaced by overwhelming despair
It felt like when they had separated but this time there would never be a reunion
He lay back as tears finally overtook him. He stayed like that for an unknown amount of time. No one bothered him, even Saphira distanced herself as she was comforting Firnen as well as she could
Eragon stared at the stars and began pointing out constellations trying to distract himself.
His stargazing was interrupted by a voice in his head, a dragon's voice, but it was not Saphira's
Glaedr spoke to him
"Come to me Eragon…. We must speak."
Eragon accepted his masters summons and pushed his sorrow aside for the moment. It was deep into the night when he finally arrived in the stronghold where the Eldunari were held.
As he entered the room many of the gems lay dim as though its occupants were asleep.
"Did Eldunari sleep?" He wondered to himself as he approached
"It is not exactly sleep but it is a period of inactivity where our energy is replenished" Umaroth spoke
Eragon jumped slightly, he hadn't noticed that Umaroth's eldunari was one of the few glowing brightly in the dark room.
"Tell me Eragon, what is your purpose here so late into the night?" Eragon detected concern and fear radiating from him
"He thinks I am here to take an Eldunari to heal Arya!" He thought to himself
Speaking to Uramoth now, Eragon assured him he was only here to see Glaedr and explained what they had decided to do with Arya
Uramoth responded in a sad tone
"Yes…. Nala came to see us several hours ago and explained your decision….. be careful moving forward Eragon"
His voice was tinged with sorrow as Umaroth's Eldunari dimmed as he fell into a slumber
Eragon was confused
"Be careful of what?" he wondered but when he asked Umaroth to elaborate he only replied faintly
"Speak to Glaedr…. You will understand soon"
Eragon groaned in frustration
"Can't anyone give me a straight answer?" He wondered in frustration as he moved toward Glaedr's Eldunari
Eragon opened his mind to Glaedr's consciousness and spoke
"You have asked, and I have come master, what is it you wish of me?"
Eragon noted Glaedr's consciousness felt different although Eragon couldn't discern what the the cause of the change was.
"Eragon, you must promise that this conversation does not reach anyone else's ear but yours" Glaedr spoke urgently
Eragon was mystified but spoke in the ancient language that he would keep silent whatever he would be told
Gleadr relaxed some and began to speak
"I have heard your decision regarding Arya Drottning, a courageous and wise decision to trust others when you are unable to separate emotion from a decision. This will serve you well in the future."
Eragon acknowledged the compliment but asked
"Thank you master….. but I sense you did not call me here to compliment me."
Glaedr laughed, an odd sound as he had no mouth to laugh with
"Always straight to the point hatchling, good to see somethings don't change."
Glaedr continued with a sigh and his joy vanished
"Even as you debated Arya's fate, we did as well. Many felt that it was not worth it to sacrifice an Eldunari that had hundreds of years of experience to save someone that in all likelihood is already at death's door"
Eragon noted a hint of disapproval in Glaedr's words that told him he thought otherwise
"And you feel differently?" Eragon said, he had a guess where Gleadr was heading with this, but he refused to be the one to say it
"I do" Was his calm response
"The other dragons made it clear that no Eldunari was to sacrifice their life for such a hopeless cause. A few others and I opposed their decision but, in the end,, majority won."
"Why meet me to say nothing can be done?" Eragon asked slightly annoyed
"Because there is something that can be done… I am willing to defy the others and sacrifice myself so that you have a chance to save Arya"
Eragon was frozen, He had suspicions this was why Glaedr had called him but for it to actually be said was still jarring. As much as Eragon wanted to save Arya he wasn't sure he could kill his master
"Master you cannot, you are much to important to m- to the order" Eragon stuttered
"Perhaps I should rescind my previous compliment of you, Eragon, You are fighting this because you are thinking with your heart, not your head."
He spoke in a softer tone
"There are much older and wiser Eldunari that are more important than I. Arya is my student Eragon, as much as you are… You are a teacher now so tell me…. If one of your students were in this position and you knew that there were others to continue the order, would you not do the same as I am now?"
Eragon had no rebuttal, He loved his students dearly and felt personally responsible for their wellbeing. If he had a chance to save them, even at the cost of his own life, he would do it in a heartbeat.
"You will not dissuade me from saving one of the last of our kind. I have spoke of my wish to enter the void for years, but I waited because I wished my death to have meaning…. There is no greater meaning than sacrifice for another."
Eragon finally relented although he hated everything about his plan.
"Very well, I cannot force you to live when you do not wish to. I shall inform the others in the morning and we will learn as much as we can before attempting to save her"
"No Eragon! Remember your oath, you cannot tell anyone of this plan!"
Eragon was confused
"Why can I not tell the others?" he asked
"Eragon if the others find out about this plan they will surely try to stop us, Do not forget how much elves value the lives of dragons, besides, if the other Eldunari realize I have gone behind their back they will likewise attempt to stop us. No, our best chance is to do this discreetly and quickly"
"What of Saphira and Firnen? they have the right to know."
Gleadr hesitated "Very well, they may know only if they are sworn to secrecy"
Eragon finally agreed although he despised lying in such a massive topic.
Eragon bid Gleadr goodbye and entered onto the street. He contacted Saphira and, after forcing her to swear in the ancient language, told her of Gleadr's plan
She was not happy about the plan and preceded to have an almost identical conversation with Gleadr that Eragon had moments before.
She too eventually relented with great dislike to the plan and flew off to inform Firnen.
Firnen, instead of trying to convince Gleadr not to do so, simply bowed and in a grateful and awed voice said
"I am forever grateful for your sacrifice and will ensure your name is remembered until the end of time, great one"
Gleadr was pleased with this remark and sent them all to bed.
Saphira and Firnen flew off towards the caves while Eragon entered his room and laid down. Although he was exhausted, sleep would not come to him no matter how hard he tried. He tossed and turned for over an hour before finally making a decision and getting out of bed.
He walked the empty streets and eventually stood outside the infirmary. He entered and found his way back to Arya's room.
She seemed no different than when he had seen her last although her face was slightly paler than it had been that morning.
He sat and grabbed her hand. The small squeeze he gained in return made him smile and He rested his head against her.
He pushed his way into the very edges of her mind as gently as possible, it was uncomfortable and at times painful to enter as incoherent thoughts and feelings were thrown around at random. He could sense the poison like an impenetrable barrier near the center of her mind. He felt the faint glow of Arya's consciousness in the middle of the swirling mass of poison. He knew even now she was being assaulted by visons of her past. He made no attempt to push farther in but hoped she could hear him
"No matter what happens tomorrow, one way or another, we will be together again, In this life or the next"
Perhaps it was his imagination, but she seemed to relax slightly as he quickly fell into a dreamless slumber
What did you think!
A few of you predicted it would be Glaedr as there were hints in other chapters.
IDK- I'm sorry! but it must be Glaedr
ManofSteel- dead on with your guess! Glaedr is certainly willing to die for the cause!
Hope you all enjoyed the chapter!
Big chapter up next! I hope to get it out tomorrow but if not, it will certainly be out Monday
Stay safe guys!