Hey guys I am back for chapter 35!
Hopefully you guys are enjoying as the story is beginning to wind down.
If you guys could give me some feedback for future stories that would be great How do you guys feel about the longer chapters? Do you prefer the shorter chapters that come out every other day or longer ones that take 2 or 3 days?
I would like to know your opinions
Thanks, and let go for chapter 35!
Arya's POV
Arya lay on the bed, breathing heavily, as she felt Eragon roll off her and lay on the bed beside her. He pulled her closer to him and her head found his chest. Arya lay there as she enjoyed the warmth of his body and she allowed herself to relax for the first time in months.
It was late into the night, well after Kayla and Niduen had returned to their respective homes in Ellesmera. Arya was quite glad that Eragon had come but couldn't help but wonder about her dreams and if they were going to come to pass.
Arya pulled back from him and ran her hands through his hair. It was knotted and clearly hadn't been combed in a while. Eragon winced as her hands ran through a particularly stubborn knot.
"Sorry" She apologized softly
Eragon turned toward her and gave her a watery smile, his eyes gleamed as tear threatened to fall
"Its fine" He said absentmindedly, his mind was clearly elsewhere at the moment and Arya knew exactly what he was dwelling on.
She reached forward and wiped a tear from his eye as it began to fall
"Surely you don't blame yourself?" She asked him softly
Eragon's arm tightened around her
"You know I do, I failed them"
Arya pulled back from him and sat up. Her eyes locked onto his as he lay in the bed.
"You are not all powerful Eragon, you cannot control death. They were riders in full….. they knew the risks"
Eragon sat up to face her and his expression was a mix of frustration and grief
"I was their teacher; I swore to protect them…. I failed… and they died for no other reason than for our enemies to send us a message" He said bitterly as he gestured to the piece of paper that lay on the table next to them.
"They died protecting the people of Alagaesia, as they promised they would do." She said gently
"You cannot save everyone Eragon, the hardest part of teaching is learning to let go"
Despite his sorrow Eragon cracked a small smile
"Did you just think of that?" He asked quietly
Arya shook her head
"It was something Oromis used to say to me when I asked of the riders he had tutored"
Eragon laughed
"That does sound like something he would say"
Arya laid back down and slowly guided Eragon back into her arms. She felt his entire body relax against her and planted a short kiss on his cheek as he sunk into the bed. Arya traced his chest and stomach with her fingers as they lay together and she felt him shivering at her touch.
They were quiet for a time as they enjoyed each other's company for the first time in months. Arya could feel drowsiness begin to overwhelm her but Eragon clearly wasn't ready to end their chat.
"Do the others know?"
Arya nodded
"Lord Dathedr scryed one of the elves and Kayla sent a letter just in case Dathedr didn't tell the entire truth"
Eragon eyed her
"Do you really think the figure we saw is behind everything?" He asked without moving
Arya's fingers continued their exploration as she responded tiredly
"I do"
"Do you think it is Dathedr?"
Arya had considered it of course but the more she thought about it the less sense it made.
"Its possible" She admitted "Although I don't know how he would have done half the things we have seen from this figure. How would he appear in our dreams from hundreds of leagues away? How would he have cured us? No elf could hope to achieve such feats"
Eragon nodded in agreement and they spoke nothing more of it. Arya felt her eyes dropping and she pulled Eragon tighter to her as sleep overtook her form.
For the first time in months, Arya felt their minds connect and pleasant dreams replaced the constant nightmares as sleep overtook them both.
The next month passed both quickly and agonizingly slow. Eragon and Arya were confined to the small bunker. Eragon was able to make several trips to the city above in his disguise but Arya was forced to stay in the bunker. None of them were willing to chance her being recognized by anyone. Arya was grateful for the time she got to spend Eragon but as days turned to weeks and no shred of evidence linking Dathedr to any wrongdoing was found. Arya could tell Eragon was getting anxious to return to Mount Arngor.
Finally, over a month after Eragon had first arrived, he broached the subject.
Arya was bent over studying several maps of the city while Eragon sat in a small chair reading.
"Arya, I don't know how much longer I can stay here"
He said as he sighed and closed the book he had been reading.
Arya looked over to him, unsurprised by his words.
"I know" She said softly "I realize you cannot remain here indefinitely"
Eragon stood and made his way over to her and placing his hand against the top of her's
"I'm not leaving without you"
The words were said with conviction and a flurry of emotions flowed behind his words. Some Arya could distinguish and some she couldn't.
She sighed
"Eragon, I am needed here. I need to ensure once I leave, my people are in capable hands. You should go without me"
Eragon shook his head violently
"Arya, there is a chance that Dathedr is innocent. You and your allies have been looking for over two months and you have found zero trace that he is involved. Allow your allies to continue looking and come home. If they find something, they will know where to find you"
He was too nervous, too fidgety. There was more to this, Arya was sure of it
"I won't cower from danger Eragon, not when others are risking their lives for me. I can take care of myself."
Eragon's brown eyes met hers and Arya could see the emotions that he held within. Eragon was incredibly determined but also desperate and scared. He hid it well, but Arya knew him just as well
Eragon took a deep breath and said again
"I will not leave without you."
He paused and seemed to consider if he should continue. His pained voice fell to barely more than a whisper
"If something happened to you and I wasn't here….. I thought I lost you once"
Eragon's face tightened and his hand balled into a tight fist.
"I won't let my dreams become real"
Arya felt a chill up her spine and she shivered. Eragon's words sounded eerily similar to the note that has been left for them by the figure.
From his tone, Arya guessed these were not normal nightmares.
Eragon pulled her close and spoke again, his concern evident in his voice.
"When you told me your dreams felt different, I disregarded them, I thought they were no different than nightmares. But now I know the difference." He swallowed hard
"These visons feel so real-"
Arya moved forward and cupped her hands around his cheek. Speaking to him with her mind, she attempted to comforted him
"I am not going anywhere. Dreams are only dreams after all"
She didn't truly believe the last part, not after her experiences, and maybe he noticed as he pulled away and gave her a sad smile.
"I told you the same once"
Arya could feel Eragon had come to a decision
Eragon turned away from her and walked to the exit
"Where are you going?" She asked confused and slightly concerned
Eragon looked back and gave her a determined look
"I need to talk to him, I need answers"
Eragon disappeared up the long passage and Arya was left standing alone in the room. She knew who he was going to speak too, and her concern grew with each passing hour he did not return.
Eragon's POV
Eragon knew he was being reckless, but he didn't care. Eragon could hear whispers of the many elves around him as he walked the streets of the city. He hadn't bothered to use any disguise this time and elves whispered among themselves at the sight of the lead rider. Eragon wanted everyone to know exactly who he was.
Eragon walked purposefully through the wooden doors of the council room. Council was in session and as Eragon walked, he could hear a heated discussion taking place. Eragon wasn't really listening but he did catch a few scattered words in the few seconds it took for him to walk to the center of the room.
"But….. war…..Surda's allies….."
The elves broke off as they each noticed Eragon standing in the center of the room. Their eyes widened in shock as they recognized who stood before them. Only King Dathedr looked unsuprised at Eragon's appearance. He looked slightly amused, as though Eragon's appearance was an interesting tangent from everyday life. There was a moment of silence before Eragon grudgingly twisted his hand at his sternum and preceded to speak the elven greeting. Dathedr responded in turn, his eyes never left Eragon's. His eyes were brown but flecked with gold and maroon specks. There was something incredibly unsettling about his gaze and Eragon felt the familiar shiver down his spine whenever he gazed at Dathedr. Some primal part of Eragon sprang to life and he could feel his instincts screaming at him
"Wrong! This is all wrong!"
Dathedr spoke, his voice was silky smooth, and he was polite but Eragon detected a level of anger in his words.
"Welcome back Kingkiller, may I ask what I can do for you?"
Eragon shifted slightly, he pushed back his feelings and spoke in voice of forced politeness
"I apologize for the intrusion, but I require a personal meeting with you. It is urgent" He added
Dathedr gave Eragon an unsettling smile
"Of course, We are speaking nothing of importance"
He waved his hand in a clear show of dismissal to the others
The elf that had been speaking when Eragon entered gave a look to Dathedr but walked off with the others.
Once they were alone Dathedr spoke
"What can I do for you, Kingkiller" He said without even trying to hide the sneer on his face
Eragon glared in dislike at him but couldn't help another shiver go down his back.
"I have come at the report of a dragon and rider that have fallen." Eragon said
It was partly true, so he could say it in the ancient language
Dathedr regarded him coldly, in a falsely sympathetic voice he spoke
"Yes, that was a great tragedy. I suppose you wish know what happened?"
Eragon shook his head and glared at him
"I am far more interested in who attacked them and why" He said coldly
Dathedr's face remained impassive at his words
"Well, you will have the full support of the elves I am sure"
His face seemed to twitch slightly and Dathedr's breath hitched ever so slightly at this and Eragon noted it but did not say anything
"Is there anything else, Rider?"
Eragon nodded, he was beginning to severely dislike this elf
"I wish to transport Veres body back to Mount Arngor once I am done here"
Dathedr spoke
"Do not worry, it has been taken care of" He said with a smile that almost made Eragon question him for details, but he refrained
Eragon nodded stiffly
"Very well"
Eragon made to turn to leave but stopped and turn back and stared directly into the king's multicolored eyes.
With a cold voice he threatened
"Do not think it has escaped my notice that two riders have been attacked within Du Weldenvarden. When I find who is responsible, I will personally ensure that they will find the edge of my blade through their heart, no matter who they may be."
Dathedr smiled but when he spoke his voice was hard
"Be careful about who you threaten, shadeslayer, I find many times a person's own demise often comes from their own hands"
He smiled wide at Eragon as though laughing at a joke.
"I don't believe you truly understand the forces you are dealing with"
Eragon responded with venom
Dathedr laughed at this, a cold laugh that Eragon was sure he had heard before
"Oh on the contrary, I know much more than you let on"
Suddenly his smile flickered, and his face went slack. His face flashed with fear and his mouth moved
"He-"
And as fast as it started it stopped and Dathedr's cold smile appeared once more.
Eragon subconsciously took a step back, unnerved by what he had just seen.
"Your normal quarters are prepared for you"
Eragon nodded still distracted as he walked out of the room. He heard Dathedr speak once more and Eragon's blood chilled at his words
"Sweet dreams, Shadeslayer"
It was growing dark. Eragon had been wondering the streets for several hours as he replayed his conversation with Dathedr over and over in his head. He was not willing to return to the bunker where Arya was staying for fear he was being watched. He was able to slip a note to Niduen as they passed on the streets. He hoped she would get it to Arya. The note simply read
He needs to go.
I cannot return
I will be in contact
Stay safe
Eragon
Eragon was nearly certain that Dathedr was behind the attacks now. Too much added up for it to be a coincidence. Eragon hoped that Arya could simply peacefully take the throne as by elven law it was still hers but Eragon doubted it
"Things never ended up so easy" He thought as he made his way to the small tower where he stayed. He walked carefully and quietly up the stairs and slowly opened the door. It was dark, even for elven senses, and Eragon cast a quick spell and a lantern hovered above him.
It was a good thing the spell allowed the light to float because if Eragon had been holding an actual lantern he would have dropped it.
The small room looked as it always had. A desk in the corner and a large bed but Eragon had eyes for something that was chained to the wall above the bed or more accurately, someone.
Folir lay chained to the wall, cuts covered his elven skin and a small pool of dried blood caked his hair. His golden eyes were dim and unfocused, and his clothing lay ragged on his form that was not much more than skin and bone.
Eragon stood in shock for a moment as he processed his supposedly dead student suddenly alive before rushing forward and speaking
"Folir! Can you hear me?"
His student's eyes darted around, and he began mumbling incoherently.
It was clear Folir was delirious and possibly not even sane at the moment but Eragon didn't care. He drew his sword and cut through the chains like butter.
Folir fell face first at Eragon who caught him and lowered him to the bed.
He was incredibly light and as Eragon placed him onto the bed he began to thrash violently. His eyes rolled back into his head and his whole body shake as though he was having a seizure. Eragon held down his student while he thrashed and after a few moments the episode ended.
His body relaxed some and his breathing evened out. He began to mumble incoherently and Eragon could only catch a few words.
"gone…no control…maroon…Ethereal…dead….Veres….alone"
For the first time Folir's eyes locked with Eragon's. Folir seemed to recognize him and for a moment his eyes looked lucid.
"Master" He whispered quietly
Eragon gave him a reassuring smile
"You are safe now, Folir"
He weakly shook his head
"Master…. He knows…. Everything"
Eragon's face paled, there was only once person he could be
Folir's voice grew weaker as his eyelids began to flutter, he struggled to speak once more
"He…is…a…shade" He gasped out before his eyes shut and his breathing evened as he passed out.
Big chapter!
I really you guys enjoyed it and sorry for the wait, school is killing me right now.
Dathedr is a shade… there have been a few hints to it if you paid attention
Thanks for the support as we get closer to the end
Stay safe everyone!