Hey Guys
I know it has been awhile since the last update. I had this chapter nearly done weeks ago but life decided to throw me a punch to the gut. About two weeks ago I learned one of my good friends was killed in a freak cliff jumping accident. It really shook me up and with everything going on and my own grief to deal with I needed to step away for a while. I regret not updating you guys on what happened and why I was going to be gone but to be honest this fanfic has been the furthest thing from my mind over the last few weeks. When I finally started writing again a few days ago I found it really helped me take my mind off things and so I started to write again.
Thanks for your understanding and I am back for chapter 43
Supersayin- There is a reason that Arya is constantly being targeted by the shade. Don't want to give much away but there is a reason.
Guest: Thank you so much for the kind words. I wasn't having the best of days and your review really helped my mood so thank you!
Don't have much more to say so enjoy the chapter
Eragon's POV
"She can't be gone"
Eragon stared at Arya's lifeless form as she crumpled to the ground at Dathedr's feet. Blood was already beginning to pool from her wound and soak into the floor she lay on.
Footsteps from behind Eragon told him Folir had emerged from the staircase behind him. A slight hitch in his breath was the only sign of fear he betrayed as he stared down at the shade. Dathedr looked towards them and smiled widely as they looked at him.
"Ahh, Eragon Kingkiller. I am glad you have finally arrived. I was starting to become concerned you had not survived, but you are here now so no matter."
Dathedr's sword hung at his side. The shade shook it slightly and droplets of Arya's blood sprinkled to the ground.
Eragon shook in anger and pain. The only thing stopping Eragon from attacking was the shades close proximity to Arya's unmoving body.
His eyes shifted to Folir as his smile grew even wider
"Rider Folir! how nice to see you once again."
His eyes traveled to the small silver square pinned to Folir's chest and he laughed out loud.
"I see you have taken measures against me. Pitiful ones, but it doesn't matter. You will be reunited with your dear dragon soon enough."
Folir's eyes flashed at this as his face contorted into an expression of rage and sorrow. His voice was quiet and reserved but there was a hatred that Eragon had never heard from the elf.
"I may very well enter the void." Folir admitted and for the first time Eragon regretted allowing the elf to join him. He had held himself together for a time but Eragon could see he was beginning to lose control as he glared at the shade. His eyes were beginning to regain a crazed look and he was shaking slightly as he spoke again.
"But you will join me"
"NO FOLIR!" Eragon shouted but it didn't matter. Folir was hellbent on revenge and Eragon couldn't stop him as he leapt at the shade.
The shade moved his sword to the back of Arya's neck as Folir approached. A flick of his wrist and any hope of saving Arya would be lost. Perhaps he thought Folir would stop at his threat. He was wrong. Folir didn't even slow down as he swung his sword at the shade with blinding speed.
As fast as Folir was, the shade was faster. The shade lifted his sword and with speed even an elf would struggle to achieve, blocked Folir's sword only a few inches from his heart. Folir growled in frustration and attacked again and again.
The two exchanged a flurry of blows at lightning speed. Folir fought with reckless abandon as he launched blow after blow at the shade. As Eragon watched the elf duel he was reminded of something Glaedr had told him regarding knowing the motives of your opponent.
"Of all the beings you will face during your life, fear most, these who have nothing more to lose"
These words had never rang truer as he watched the elf's duel. It was clear that Folir's only goal was to kill Dathedr and he did not care about how he did it or the destruction he could cause in the process. Folir fought with no regard for his own safety or these around him as he ferociously pushed his attack. Twice his blade passed within inches of Arya's body and for the first time Eragon felt true fear as he watched his pupil.
"What good is defeating Dathedr if another monster takes his place?"
Eragon started to move forward to join the fight. Partly to aid Folir and partly to help contain him so that he wouldn't do more harm than good. But even as he took his first step the battle in front of him shifted. Dathedr had deflected a blow from Folir and had taken the opening to kick him so hard that he flew backward several yards and landed hard onto the ground. Folir was on his feet within moments but the shade made no effort to move forward and continue the fight.
He turned towards Eragon and spoke softly
"You have trained him well"
Dathedr's tone was neutral but Eragon detected a level of grudging respect that had been absent previously as the shade turned his back to Eragon to face Folir who glared at the shade. The shade seemed to look almost kindly at the elf. He suddenly seemed tired and defeated as he spoke.
"You and I are not so different young one. You want revenge for what I did to your dragon. I understand."
The shade sounded almost remorseful as he spoke. He seemed dazed as though lost in memory.
"More than you know"
The phrase was said so quietly that Eragon was sure the shade was speaking more to himself than either of them.
The shade seemed frozen for a moment before a slight shudder rocked his body and a smile lit his face once more.
"I told you that you would be reunited with your dragon. I am many things, but I am not one to break promises."
Eragon eyed his pupil warily. He fully expected Folir to press his attack once more at the shades' words but when Eragon glanced at Folir his sword hung aimlessly at his side. His eyes were fixed, not at Dathedr, but at the sky above them.
Dathedr's eyes rose to the sky as well and Eragon could see his maroon eyes glittering in the faint light of the morning. Eragon was unwilling to take his eyes off the shade until a familiar voice rang in his head.
"Beware! He has escaped me!"
Saphira sounded exhausted and Eragon hadn't even realized their minds had reconnected. Despite his better judgment he glanced up.
A massive red dragon was descending toward them. For the briefest of moments Eragon felt his heart leap at the sight of the familiar dragon.
"Veres!"
But as quickly as his joy had erupted it was quickly replaced by a crushing sense of despair. The normally exuberant dragon was silent. Injuries littered his body and his normally silver eyes were grey and lifeless.
It was Veres' body, but it was not truly Veres.
"I am sorry, little one"
It took a moment for Eragon to realize Saphira had spoken to both him and Folir.
Eragon felt as though he had been punched in the gut. A familiar guilt licked at his insides as he eyed the dragon. Tears sprung into his eyes as he watched the now deceased dragon land directly in front of a shaking Folir.
The world seemed to stand still. Even the sounds of fighting nearby seemed to cease as though every eye, dead or alive, suddenly fell upon the pair.
Veres's neck slowly bent lower and lower until he was eye to eye with his former rider. His dull grey eyes stared blankly at Folir's golden irises as Folir hesitantly took a step forward.
Folir's eyes seemed to glint in the faint light and for the first time since his dragon's death Eragon saw some life, some hope, in his normally joyless eyes. Folir's eyes closed and his shaking hand slowly rose and rested upon the dragon's snout.
The effect was immediate. The sound of fighting resumed as Folir's eyes suddenly snapped open on contact with his former dragon. His face had turned pale and his breath came in short gasps as he stumbled backwards and collapsed to his knees, His eyes wondered toward Eragon's for a brief moment.
However long Eragon lived, he knew he would never forget the look of the golden eyes he stared into.
The eyes of a broken being stared back at him. There was no sign of anger or determination in the golden orbs now, only a crushing sense agony and despair. It was as though Folir's very soul had been taken in one painful moment.
"No torture could ever be as painful as this"
Eragon thought as he watched his pupil's sword clatter to the ground. Folir's eyes never left his dragon as his body began to shake silently and tears began to fall.
Eragon felt Saphira's anger surge and felt her preparing to dive at Veres,
"Saphira no! If you and Firnen fight Veres on the ground then many more lives will be at risk! Let me handle this"
Eragon felt her grudgingly agree as he turned his attention back to the shade.
Dathedr was slowly striding toward the elf. He sheathed his sword as he walked, clearly he no longer perceived Folir as a threat. Eragon cautiously moved forward as well, carefully avoiding looking at Arya's body that lay several feet away. He feared the answers he would get if he did.
Dathedr stood directly in front of Folir now. Folir had shifted his head to look at the shade. Tears still streamed down his face as he stared at his maroon eyes. Twice his voice quivered before Folir finally found his voice.
"Ple- please" he begged the shade
For a moment Eragon was shocked
"Is Folir begging for his life?"
But as Folir looked up more and exposed his throat to the shade, Eragon understood what the elf was really asking.
The shade smiled softly at the elf.
"As tempting as your offer is young one. I must refuse you."
The words were said almost kindly, As though the shade really cared for Folir.
The shade glanced at the dragon next to him and said softly
"The pain you feel now is one of the worst that any being can experience. It destroys your very being and leaves you a shell of your former self"
The shade sighed regretfully
"I am sorry, I don't want to do this, But I cannot have you interfering"
Eragon rushed forward but he was too slow
The shade's eyes met Folirs for a brief moment and Eragon saw Folir's eyes widen as though he had a sudden realization. A moment later the shade's blade suddenly flashed and a stump appeared where Folir's right hand had been. Folir barely had time to shout before Veres's tail slammed into him and he was launched off his feet and disappeared into the dust.
Eragon's scream of rage was lost over the sound of the battle as the shade turned toward him. It took all his will power to stop himself from rushing the shade, but his grip tightened on Brisingr all the same.
Veres suddenly launched into the sky and within moments the roar of dragon's filled their ears once more. Eragon glanced up to see Firnen trying to dive past Veres and reach Arya. Eragon could hear Firnen's frustrated growls as Veres continued to block his efforts. Firnen's efforts became more and more desperate at each failed attempt and Eragon could see exhaustion was starting to wear on the dragon.
"Tell Firnen if he continues, he will be killed! I will ensure Arya is safe"
Even to himself it sounded pathetic. Arya lay dead or dying several feet away from him and he could do nothing to aid her. Folir was injured and potentially going insane, Eragon had seen no sign of Kayla anywhere and dozens of elves were dead. For the first time since the mad kings defeat Eragon felt truly hopeless.
"What good is being powerful if I am helpless to protect others?"
The feeling threatened to overwhelm him as he realized even if he won, what would he return to?
Eragon took a deep breath to calm himself. He couldn't worry about anything but the threat in front of him or else he never would have a chance to help anyone. He tried to find a measure of calmness, but his concern still lingered in the back of his mind.
The shade smiled at him. The sunlight mixed with the dust that hung in the air and his maroon eyes seemed to glow.
"Kingkiller, we are alone at last"
The softness he had displayed moments ago was gone. His tone was harsh and cold like steel on steel. It made Eragon's spine shiver and his voice hitched slightly as he spoke.
"Why are you doing this?"
Despite himself he couldn't help his curiosity at the shade's response to his question.
The shade chuckled and a grin lit his features
"You are so unlike many of the riders of old. Many of them would have simply attacked without a second thought but you want to understand your enemies"
The shade paused as a pile of rubble shifted nearby and debris fell at their feet.
"Immortality is a great gift, but also a terrible curse."
The shade took a step closer to him
You have already discovered this, haven't you Era—Eragon?"
The shade's face spasmed ever so slightly at his name but Eragon barely noticed. His thoughts were consumed by what the shade had said. Eragon found his words deeply disturbing because he also shared a similar view of his own immortality.
"To continue to live while many of my friends die around me….."
It was something Eragon had still not fully come to terms with.
The shade smiled at him and spoke as though he had read his mind
"I have lost many of my friends to the ravages of time while I remain unaffected by its passing."
The shades face darkened and his eyes bored into Eragon's
"There are upsides to immortality however. When you live longer than almost any other race you have the freedom to rewrite history to how you see fit and the riders…"
The shade smiled evilly
"Took full advantage of this perk"
Eragon shook his head as he felt his anger rising
"Why would the riders do this? What would they hope to achieve!"
The shade grinned at Eragon
"To gain power of course. By the time of the fall, the Riders had become corrupt and power hungry. They had become a shell of their former selves. Terrified of losing their power, they did terrible things to hold it."
The shades anger lessened some and his harsh tone diminished slightly
"They were not fools however. They understood that the stronger the belief in the Riders was the stronger the Rider's order became so they ensured that many of their atrocities could never be traced back to them"
Unbidden, a memory crossed his mind as the shade finished. A vison of figures in the dark on Vanguard.
"What was it that Glaedr had said about them?"
"There are these who worshiped the riders as gods"
Eragon shook his head and despite himself his anger began to grow.
"You lie" He said coldly
His thoughts shifted to Oromis and Glaedr and his resolve deepened.
"This cannot be! They would never be a part of an order so corrupt and evil"
Still, the shade spoke in the ancient language so at the very least he believed what he said. In the back of his mind Eragon could see there was some truth in his words even if he refused to admit it
The shades face tightened and his voice grew harsh as he responded coldly
"You call yourself a Rider and yet you know nothing of your true history… How disappointing"
"And what makes you any better than the riders!" Eragon said angrily
The shade laughed and responded
"Unlike the Riders, Everything I do is in service to the people of Alagaesia"
The sincerity in the shade's voice surprised Eragon even as he laughed at the shades words.
"Service to the people?" Eragon said incredulously "You have killed dozens of innocents! How is that aiding Alagaesia!"
The shade surveyed him coldly. His eyes seemed to darken with every passing second.
"I am protecting Alagaesia's future"
The shade continued
"Tell me Rider" The shade sneered at the word like it was the worst insult he could muster
"If you had the choice to sacrifice ten lives to save a hundred, would you do it?"
Eragon hesitantly nodded. He would hate himself for it, but he would do it.
"Then you see how killing a few can mean saving many others"
The shade's eyes narrowed as he continued coldly
"I did not want any of this, but you forced my hand. I had no interest in harming any of the elves in Du Weldenvarden nor any of the other races in Alagaesia"
Once again, Eragon found himself believing the shade. In his own twisted, mad way, he truly believed he was aiding the people
"If you truly are saving the people, then what are you saving them from?"
Eragon asked curiously
The shade studied Eragon intently and his eyes shone dimly in the light of the fires nearby. The shade gave him a cold smile and Eragon suddenly knew what he was going to say before his mouth even moved.
"You, of course"
Eragon stared at the shade. He wasn't shocked at the shades' words; He had made clear what his thoughts were on the riders. But his wording was what disturbed Eragon the most. He didn't say "The Riders" or "Dragons", He had specifically said "you"
"Me"
The shade nodded
"You believe I am a danger to the people of Alagaesia"
The shade nodded again and said simply
"I do"
Eragon glanced away towards where Arya lay as he thought hard.
"Why"
The shade smiled at him and said softly
"You already know why…..You are the most important person in all of Alagaesia. Your words hold more weight than any King or Queen and your sword turns the tides in any battle it joins. Entire armies surrender at the mention of your name. The path your life takes will dictate entire races and play a role in every life for the next thousand years"
"I know this" Eragon said annoyed
"These are some of the many reasons I decided to leave Alagaesia and settle the riders elsewhere"
The shade smiled coolly
"Yet here you are"
"I am here because of you!" Eragon said angrily
"You are a shade who nearly killed one of our order!"
The shade shook his head slightly
"You are here because you want to change things for your own gain, to meddle in affairs you have no business meddling in."
Eragon's anger was evident on his face and the shade elaborated
"If you do not believe me consider this. When you first came here you believed me to be just another political opponent against the queen. You had no proof of any wrongdoing nor of my true identity and yet you still came here planning to overthrow me for no other reason than personal gain"
"The reason-"
Eragon started but the shade cut him off
"The reason Arya was attacked was because of her many political enemies. I played no part in the planning of the attack. As I have told the queen, I have plans for her. I had no interest in having her killed quite yet"
The shade shook his head
"You say you are different from the riders of old and yet you still continue to change and influence the world around you for your own benefit"
Eragon's mouth opened to respond but no sound came out.
The shade smiled
"Do you see now why I have done this? Why all of the deaths are worth it?"
The shade gave a crazed laugh that shook Eragon to the core
"The riders are too powerful and live far to long to be the unbiased protectors of Alagaesia they are meant to be. The corruption has already began and you haven't even noticed it! Tell me rider, if after only a decade the seeds of corruption have begun, what will happen in one hundred years? Or a thousand?"
The shade shook his head but the smile never left his face
"The Riders must end if Alagaesia is too be free again."
Eragon shook himself out of his stupor and his grip tightened on his drawn sword
"You know I cannot allow that" He said calmly but with an edge to his voice
The shade gave him a smile as his own sword was drawn
"I counted on it"
The shade leapt at him as dragons roared above him and steel met steel.
I hope you guys enjoyed!
The main fight will have the majority of the next chapter!
Thank you all for the continued support of this story, especially with the inconsistent uploads lately, it means a lot.
Last thing I want to say is this
Life is short, don't take these you love for granted because they can be gone at any moment.
Stay safe y'all and I will see you soon