I do not own the Inheritance Cycle.
Edited 1/30/22

Please let me know your thoughts throughout the story, I'd love to hear for you :)

Enjoy,


The Shadows of War

The sun was beginning to wan, shedding a cheerless over the city and through the icy stalactites, throwing fragments of color against the high walls of the hallow mountain. By the time the sight was noticed it faded leaving only a pale streaming light in its wake. After a couple of hours that too would dwindle and the city and its people would be cast into premature night. Yet for now, while that light was still there, a dragon circled through it creating a shifting shadow and the only sound heard was the dull sonorous beating of its wings.

Rose was daydreaming, musing abstractedly on some of the things she had seen and heard in the past weeks. After the months of endless travel and dirt filled shoes, the last things she expected was the tangible earning for sunlight's warmth. It was a somatic lure, so strong she sometimes felt sick with it. She had tried for a long while to push it aside, to keep her mind occupied, until that no longer worked and she was forced to admit defeat. The act of asking Thorn was a reluctant one, and though the dragon had huffed irritably at her, he obliged- never one to turn down a chance of flying. And for quite some time they flew, each keeping to their own counsel, as the cold phantom sunlight faded, slowly evaporating the beam of light.

Rose peered up at the opening, still far above her head, straining her eyes to see the blue of the sky, yet there was nothing and she looked away with discontent settling in her belly. There was more, she realized then, than just the sunlight was she was pining for. After a time, she rubbed her arms hoping to put some warmth back onto her skin, and reached out her mind slightly. Thorn, she called and when the dragon did not respond she deepened their mindtouch and tried again. Thorn?

This time the dragon merely bustled in answer, and she found no emotions nor words from him. She sighed, and leaned forward onto his saddle until she was laying on it. Her eyes shut on their own accord.

Are you done basking in the day-circle's light? The dragon asked.

No. Rose sighed. I have yet to feel it. This place drains the warmth from even the sun into something of a mockery. I miss the sunlight and the wind and the blue sky. It is as if we are inside an oubliette and we cannot leave it soon enough.

You sound like a hatchling with all of that complaining.

In your terms I might as well be, said Rose thinking back to a previous talk they had. How long ago had that been now? Merely a few moon cycles? It felt like ages. Your egg was brought into this world hundreds of years before the thought of me was even born. Yet, in a different way, you are younger than I.

Thorn hummed deeply beneath her. Which is it?

I haven't the faintest idea, she said. She straightened herself and looked over the streets and homes below. Her grip on the dragon's lowest spike tightened. Both, either, neither. Perhaps at this point in time, it matters little.

Perhaps, Thorn agreed, turning at last toward the dragonhold. A bell rang in the distance, and he suddenly changed course.

Rose frowned, kicking at the bulk. She knew that he couldn't feel it, his scales protected him from any assault she could physically give him, but her mind she liked to think that it had some effect. I'd rather not go there, Thorn. Not tonight.

The dragon huffed, and landed near Tronjheim's gates. He wound his head around to stare at her with a single eyed glare. Why not? he demanded. Do you not think that you have avoided this long enough?

I most certainly could evade this longer, said Rose and then she sighed. I won't even know what to say to her without becoming cross, Thorn. I could very easily say or do something that I will regret. No, I'm not going up there. Not yet and most certainly not on this day.

Thorn grumbled and pounded his tail against the cobbled stone. He snaked his head around to stare at her with one of his ruby eyes before he shook himself, violently throwing her from his back. With a screech, she landed in a graceless heap on the ground not far from him. As she slowly stood, cursing softly under her breathe, Thorn moved so that he was standing over her. A deep growl tore through his chest. I wish that you would listen to me, he said.

Rose brush herself off before she glared up at him. That was unnecessary, she huffed. I do listen to you, Thorn, so please stop with the dramatics.

Thorn blew smoke at her and turned away. Go and do whatever you want, he said as he jumped into the sky. I am done arguing with you about this.

She bit her lip to stave off her impatience, and looked around the square. Nearby a grouping of children were watching her, their previous game forgotten. Rose met their eyes after a moment and they quickly looked away, breaking out into hushed whisperings. One of the children's knees were shaking. She studied the children a moment longer before turning toward the city and making her way through the gates.

Rose had no intention of going to Selena's home, not after the time and effort she had spent avoiding the place and the woman who dwelled there. It was too hectic, she had decided, trying to through a conversation with that woman. Even during the days that Selena was not within the Varden stronghold, she did not make her way there and now she doubted that she even remembered the path. The thought did not pain as she thought it truly should.

As she walked through the streets of Tronjheim, she paid the crowd around her no mind, it was easier to pretend that the people were not there, and she wove her way to the library. Once inside she picked up a lamp for the path she took was often unlit, and worked her way through the library towards older rooms. There she had found that more and more chambers were covered with thick dust and looked as if no one had gone into them in ages. She had explored these rooms thoroughly some days before and now settled herself atop a cushioned bench embedded into the stone and began to read- though it had not been long though before a sound stopped her.

Rose looked up from the book in her lap, and listened to the footsteps growing ever closer. She could hardly see anything beyond the shadow of the room and squinted her eyes to try to see through the dimness. She could not. Her light was a beckon in the dark, but she left it alone because she did not like the idea surrendering herself to complete darkness. What a stupid thing it had been to hole herself up back here!

Whoever was coming could be nothing sinister but rather a bibliophile interested in a quiet dark place to loss their worries to, like her. But even with this thought, her hand slipped from the page to the sword at her waist. She was not completely undefended.

In the silence Rose waited, the book forgotten beside her, listening to the shadows. From the darkness she glimpsed a figure come around the corner, a flash of white teeth as the person looked up from pulling at a loose string from their sleeve. The string snapped and the figure groused in complaint, and then came into her circle of light.

Rose felt herself relaxing into her chair as Brom stepping into the room. He stared at her for a moment, his eyes unreadable, before he took a seat beside her. As he sat down, a cloud of dust rose into the air. "Your mother was heartbroken when I found her all those years ago," said Brom in a surprisingly gentle voice after a time of silence. "She had just left Eragon with her brother, firmly believing he would have a better, safer life with him and his family. As long as he was free from Morzan, he was safe, she had said. She will never admit it but when I found her, she broke down and cried for hours. She was guilt ridden about leaving behind our son-" he paused until Rose turned looked at him, meeting his gaze- "and you."

Rose snorted without thinking of the action. "Oh, I'm certain she was," she said, her face burning. "I must ask; how did you find me? I did not come here with the intention of talking to anyone."

"Thorn asked me to talk to you. He told me where I could find you," he said in that same gentle tone, his eyes turning hard. "Do you want to hear what I have or not?"

"In all honesty; no, I would rather not." She looked away, at the wall, at her hands, at anything other than Brom's gaze. She did not wish to hear this, not at all. All she wanted was to be left alone so that she could read in peace.

Brom sighed. "I often wondered what would have happened had I killed Morzan sooner. If I had taken Selena and you and ran to farthest reaches of this continent, would we all have been better off? I wondered what would have become of you. If you would have brave and beautiful like your mother, or if you would have something of Morzan's cruelness. I didn't ever expect to find out, and neither did your mother, not after we were told that he had killed you."

Rose frowned, she had heard these words before. "I've heard about it before. Why are you retelling me this?"

"Because despite what you might think of me, I care for your mother, very much," he said. "And I care about her family; that includes you." He paused. "I know about what you did in Gil'ead and what it took to free Arya, and why you went into the tower to begin with. After talking with Arya I realized that you left an important piece of information out."

"I told you the majority of it."

"That hardly matters," he said some of his gruffness returning. "You still went inside the tower, and with the knowledge that there was Shade, even when you did not find what you were looking for, you saved someone in need of saving. It speaks highly of you. And I have a hard time knowing that the same person who did these brave and noble things is same one moping beside me. The man claimed to be your father did many things but none of them were brave or honorable. It might do you some good to remember that."

"Why," Rose repeated, "are you telling me this?"

"I might not be able to order you to forgive your mother for whatever past crimes she dealt you, but I can ask you to try," said Brom, all gentleness in his voice gone. He stood up and wiped his hands on his pants. "Beyond that, you're pitiful. Now come and join us for supper. Your mother is having guests over and I'm willing to bet my last button she wants you to meet them." Brom gave her one last look before he turned and walked back into the shadows.

Rose glared at his back, wishing for something to throw at him, but soon found herself standing up as well and following after him into the shadows. Her cheeks burned with his insult yet despite this she found that she might learn to like this man. He at least said what he had to say plainly, that was when he choose to say anything at all. He was very much unlike who she thought him to be, and who he portrayed himself to be.

Brom led her past the aisles of books and chambers filled with dust, and then through the streets. He did not acknowledge her presence, and Rose had half a mind to ask Thorn to collect her at the gates. It seemed likely to her that he would not, and that the testy dragon would make her walk up the Endless Stairway if she wished to return the dragonhold. Perhaps it would take the whole evening to make it up there, if she did not get lost along the way but perhaps that was what he had intended. Rose decided in the end that she best risk the evening at the apartment with Selena than ask Thorn for anything.

When they reached the apartment, Rose was introduced to a man named Herb, who gave her a plum, although he asked no questions Rose found him staring at her curiously throughout the evening. He was in her option, a very strange person indeed. He was a dark-haired, heavily built man from the north, past the reaches of the Empire who had a trick of wordless, unpatronizing kindness. And though she did not know what brought him to leave his people and live with the Varden, she believed that she had an idea.

Rose met also his wife and daughter, and learned that it the paintings throughout Selena's home were done by the younger girl's hand. A surprise for whenever the woman would return home. "Ailis has never let a drop of paint or an ounce of light into this dark, dank hole she calls a home," Lorna said to her in a loud whisper, her fingers twisting into the tiny coils of her hair. "So, I had to break in and brighten it up while she was away or it would forever remain gloomy. Now, at least, Papa can't call it a dreary fleapit."

Rose smiled and moved away as Eragon made to sit beside them. "I suppose that no one can call this place anything close to uninspiring," she said, elbowing her brother when he made to grab her plum, having already eaten his own. "It's most certainly sunny in here. The despondency is overpowered, and that is a particular feat in itself. You're quite talented."

Lorna's wide grin fell and her lightly browned skin colored. "Oh, no, I'm not talented at all. Talent is nothing more than hardwork and true dedication," she said with a quick shake of her head. "Papa tells me always; that we can do anything we put out mind to if, and only if, we are willing to work endlessly at it."

With a nod from Rose, the conversation changed to other subjects and she learned more about the life the people of the Varden led and then some of the traditions of the traveling tribes from the north. The Hauleol, or the Sun-Tails, as some of the people called theirselves. She listened to the short, and rather funny folktales Herb told them though she found his speech somewhat hard to understand, before Brom took over and told a tale of his own. A much more serious one.

As the story came to its end Eragon poked her. "I'm glad you came," he said when she looked his way. "I feel like the only time I see you is when Brom makes spare together, and every other moment you're reading. I like reading but not that much."

"Perhaps if you read would more you know more," she said, shoving his hand away. "Books are records of all knowledge."

He stared at her, his face falling. "Maybe if you read less you'd understand more."

"Perhaps," she said running two fingers over her between the thick fabric of her sleeve. She glanced up and noticing Selena making her way over, quickly stood. "Or perhaps not. There is no true way to tell. Now if you'll excuse me we have an early morning tomorrow and I would like to rest before then."

"Thanks for reminding me." He groaned and leaned further into the cushions.

"You are welcome. Have a good night, Eragon," said Rose, and then without another word she slipped out the musky room and hurried down the stairway before Selena had the chance to say a word to her. Rose hadn't allowed her the chance all evening, even with Brom's earlier words still ringing in her ears.

The next day Rose awoke from a deep sleep, and stretched luxuriously in bed. She was not eager to rise and greet the day, not while it was still dark and she was warm beneath her blankets. It would be easy to fall back to sleep. With a groan, she tossed the blankets back, the cool air bit hungrily at her skin, and sat up to face Thorn's bulk. She squeezed through the small opening he left her for that very propose and then walked slowly around the cave, gathering what she would need for the day before she dressed. As she pulled on her boots, she woke Thorn.

The dragon woke quickly and stared at her before standing. He stretched out his head to the top of the cavern and let out a piping rumble. Saphira and I have decided to go for a hunt today, he said conversationally, yesterday's ire seemingly forgotten. Those small two-leggeds would probably appreciate it if you told them instead of us. They did not take too well last time.

Rose grinned and stood, a bag bumping her hip. She had plans to find the bathing room before lessons began. Every inch of her felt filthy. They would probably prefer that, she said. I have other plans but I believe that if we hurry both can be done before Brom even thinks about awakening.

Thorn thumped his tail against the ground and turned towards the entrance, Rose hurrying ahead of him. She would go the gates of the mountain first, she decided and request that the dragons be let through to go hunting later that day and then she would bathe though her time would now be cut short. Her thoughts then turned to the scented soaps and oils she had left behind at the castle, and just as she thought of how wondrous lavender oil would feel against her skin, Eragon appeared at the entrance of her cave.

"Good you're up," he said with a loud yawn. He looked like he had just woke up and thrown on the first pieces of clothing that he touched without regards of whether or not they matched nor how wrinkled they were, or bothered to at least run his fingers through his messy hair. "Brom said to meet him at the gates of the city, and to hurry." He turned around then and rushed to the dragon behind him, jumping onto her back with practiced ease. As he yawned again, Saphira jumped and took flight.

Rose looked at Thorn and sighed. I don't believe that either of us are going to get to do what we planned, she said and then climbed onto his back. She did not bother to put on the saddle, it was only a short flight from here to the gates below.

Nor do I, Thorn huffed with discontent and then launched himself loudly into the air. The sunlight would have felt good against my scales. This chill here does not trouble me as it does you, but I still miss the endless blue above.

She swatted at him with a mumble of complaint. If I knew what you were truly after I would not have agreed to talk to the gatekeepers. Not without you promising to take me with you.

Thorn huffed a laugh, and landed outside the gates where Brom stood, tapping his fingers along his thigh. Eragon and Saphira were nowhere within sight, likely they had already gone ahead. "Come on you two and hurry it up," he demanded, and then as Rose walked towards him; "I sent your brother and Saphira ahead with Orik. You two were taking too long."

She frowned at the man. They had not been that far behind Eragon. He is more irritable than usual. Something has happened, she said privately to Thorn as they began to follow Brom. I haven't an idea what it is but I believe we shall soon find out.

The dragon silently agreed with her, nudging her slightly with his snout, and this was when Rose recognized the route they were taking though she had only walked down it once before. She fell silent and began to pay closer attention to the faces of the people they passed. Everyone she saw wore grim expressions, their hands hovering close to their weapons. When they arrived at the large doors, at last, flanked with broad-shouldered guards, Rose took a deep breath, steeling herself for whatever was to come. Wordlessly the guards opened the doors and waved them inside. And Rose found that unlike the last time she was here, the study was clean and without its chaotic order; no books lined the desk nor were they piled cautiously on top of cushioned chairs and floor, all drafts of paper were rolled up and set aside in a basket, and the stone flasks of ink and pens were put high on the shelves behind the huge desk. Now only scraps of tattered paper and a large map, with a slight tear in its middle from be folded so often, decorated the desk.

"Good you're here," said the Varden leader, as he overlooked everyone in the room. "Is that everyone? Yes, good, sit down there is much to discuss and little time." Ajihad looked up from the paper he was looking over as they walked in and he wordlessly waved his hand towards the few vacant chairs shattered throughout the room.

Rose looked curiously at the man as she moved towards the chairs. From the arduousness of his movements she knew that her earlier theories were indeed true. She silently took a seat near one of the couches. Leaning on the far end of that couch was Selena, and beside her Brom had seated himself. He said something to her in his low, mumbling voice and she scowled at him before she stood and seated herself on the couch next to him. She said something then to Brom who nodded and looked ahead. Rose also noticed Eragon remained standing rigidly close to Saphira, he made no move to sit down. Not far from him, sat the elf, Arya her face hidden behind the thick waves of her ebony hair. There were others there as well, people Rose did not recognize among was a man with close-cropped hair and wiry arms she later learned was the Varden leader's second, Jörmundur. Orik stood by door with a scowl on his face, Rose noticed that he had a bandage wrapped around the palm of his hand.

Ajihad stared at Brom from a long time, his dark eyes never moving, before he inclined his head slightly and said, "I have called you all here because the group of Urgals had attacked the gates last night." There was a rising of noise and he waited for it quiet before he said, "Over the last days my watchers of Biglowe Valley have kept us updated of their movement, and so we were prepared for this attack. Though we met their attack in victory, for indeed it was an intended attack, our victory did not without a few loses of our own. This one outburst is likely not the last. King Hrothgar and I believe that it was nothing more than a test our will, a way for Galbatorix to feel out our stronghold."

"How do you know that Galbatorix is finally making his move against us?" said an older man was a stock of silver hair, who Rose later learned was named Vers. "Urgals in these parts are rare but not unheard of. It has happened before."

"We found this on the Urgal leader," Ajihad said handing the battered parchment to Brom. It was the same one he had been studying upon their arrival. As Brom reviewed it, Rose noticed with a sickening twist that the blackened places she thought were burnt were in fact blood stains.

Brom shook his head and handing it back to the Varden leader. "I know many scripts but even I can't read that."

"It's a code," said Selena in a tired voice. "It's a speech that Galbatorix uses to communicate with his servants. It is something he started recently."

Ajihad nodded and faced the others. "It's not that new, a few years old at least. I was able to devise its meaning where its legible, though it took most of the night. It reads: …A gatekeeper at Ithrö Zhȃda is let its hearer and his minions pass. They are bulked with the others of their king and by- The rest of the sentence is unreadable until- but only if the two factions refrain from fighting. Command will be given under Tarok, under Gashz, under Durza under Ushnark the mighty. – I believe that Ushnark is Galbatorix. It means 'father' in Urgal tongue, an affectation that would please him. Little else but jumbled sentences and vague words can be read past there."

"Where's Ithrö Zhȃda? I've never heard of it," Eragon asked. Rose looked his way and noticed that he finally decided to sit down.

"Nor have I," said Ajihad, "Which makes me suspect that it a place Galbatorix has renamed for his proposes. After deciphering this, I asked myself what where hundreds of Urgals doing by the Beor Mountains and where were they going? The parchment mentions 'others of their kind,' so I assume there are even more Urgals that their destination. There is only one reason for the king to gather such a force."

"Are you saying what I believe I'm hearing, Ajihad?" said one of the men. "Are we preparing for war?"

The leader nodded. "I fear so, my friend."

"Ajihad," said Orik after a time, until then he had remained completely silent. "We are talking of the slim chance that this Urgal army makes it into Tronjheim."

"Do you truly believe that those Urgals found our entrance by coincidence?" The Varden Leader turned to the dwarf. "I have spent most of the morning thinking the very same as you, Orik. Yet, as time passed and the writing on this parchment became clear I understood that it would be foolish to believe otherwise."

There was a glum silence, and then talk then turned to the current defenses of the city and each present on the latest developments, with the newest reports from the watchers of the valley. Saosha, the captain of the guard, said that his scouts report no new activity in or outside of Bigelow Valley, nor was there sight of the supply wagons. Without fresh meat or greens or grain the people of the Varden would be forced from the stronghold, and though the dwarves had other, closer sources of sustenance they could not be relied wholly upon. If they were besieged without an exit, it was more likely that the soldiers and people would die of starvation than the wounds of battle. The likelihood of this however was slim. The mountain city sat on a ranking of tunnels and caves- it was a great construction made in the days before the Riders and therefore it was also a great maze with many exits.

"We can't defend Tronjheim's entire perimeter- it is too large for our forces," said Ajihad. "But I believe that we can use the tunnels to our advantage should they get into the city. They make it easy to lead the Urgals into a trap."

"And what the people, the families?" asked Jörmundur. "I won't see my wife and son murdered."

"All the women and children are to be evacuated to Kealii Valley," said Ajihad. "If all goes well they shan't stay there long before returning to us but if not and if my beliefs prove true they will be guided to Surda."

Jörmundur relaxed into his chair, his shoulders drooping with relief. "How long before the city is emptied of the women and children?"

"Two days, no more," Ajihad answered. "And then we prepare." While he had speaking he had shown no emotion but know his voice broke and he turned away in clear dismissal. "If you remain behind, Arya, Rose, and Thorn, I would like a word with you. The rest of you may go."

Rose sat back down and shot a frown at Eragon but he was paying her no mind his eyes instead focused far off in the distance before he stood up and left with Saphira. She did however catch the look Selena shoot at her, and after a pause she returned it. The woman nodded her lightly, and then pulled Brom from the room by his arm, whispering to him the whole while. Looking away, she saw the captain and Jörmundur had launched into an intense conversation.

Thorn nudged her arm and she patted his snout absently. Yes? she asked him.

You've been silent.

Rose frowned. You've been just as silent as I have, Thorn, she stated.

The dragon snorted at her drawing Ajihad's attention away from the map he took to staring at absently. "I would like to know your current plans, Arya," he said, turning to away from them and towards the elf. "It will affect us greatly with what you choose to do."

"If there is a pending attack I will remain here and help where I can," said the elf. "Yet if there is nothing, I should be making my way to Ellesmera. How certain are that Galbatorix is finally making his move against the Varden?"

"Very," he said. "We have the last remaining dragon egg, and two Riders under our roofing. I can see no reason for him not to make his first move against us. I'm only surprised it took him this long to do so. It would be preferable to have the elves support in this event."

"Then I will compose a letter to be sent to my Queen but given the situation, she may not respond. I believe it is best that you make plans without counting on their aide," Arya decided after a pause and then blinked. "I, however, will stay unless I am given a reason to believe that the dragon egg is in any danger."

"I've been thinking that it might be best to hide the egg among the women. It would grantee its safety from being harmed in battle or taken." Ajihad straightened the sleeves of his shirt and looked at Rose. "It is only the matter of the carrier."

Arya turned to her as well, her face troubled. "If there is a battle both of the dragons and their Riders will be needed," she said with narrowed eyes.

"I know this," he said, "but I cannot help but think that the women and the egg will be safer with them. That is, Rose and Thorn, if you are agreeable to it."

Rose stirred, until then she had remained in her own counsel, listening and observing the situation. She understood Ajihad's true intentions and she had a feeling that Arya did as well. Ajihad had not needed Eragon here because he knew very well that her brother and his dragon would fight with them but she and Thorn… they were a wildcard, as Brom had once said. They had made no declaration to stand by the Varden should worse come to be, and her conversation with the dwarf king all those weeks ago did indeed have its drawbacks. It was likely that this offer was been given to her by his instance- the dwarf would be taking no chances.

She turned to Thorn. It is your call, Thorn, she said. You know already what I think of this situation. I prefer neither option he is presenting.

The dragon grumbled and lowered his head to her eye level. He is not giving us an option.

So long as our intentions remain undistinguishable to him, he is not.

Then we go, said Thorn after a pause. You will not rise against the false king and he is giving you little choice. You will either remain here and fight against the Empire or leave and do nothing. I will follow you down whatever path you choose.

Rose pushed her hair out of her face. It is not that I will not rise against him, it is that I cannot, she said. He destroyed a whole society with little thought, do you not think that he unwilling to do the same to us?

Then we go, he repeated but this time he added nothing more.

Rose looked back the Varden leader, who was studying with a dark, knowing gaze, and nodded. "If you believe that the best place for Thorn and I is be with the women to protect the egg than we will go," she said.

"It is for wellbeing and the peace of mind for the women and children as well," he said, sounding relieved. "I dislike the idea of leaving the women and children without a sort of protection of their own. Should anything happen, and should the Varden fall, I would like to think that next generation of our people shall be safe from harm's way, and that you will be willing to give that protection. We are of course speaking of mere probabilities. Nonetheless, I do not want any stone unturned, per say." Rose resisted the urge to roll her eyes, instead she stiffly nodded before looking away. "Very good. I will arrange the egg to be transferred into your care upon your departure. That is all," Ajihad said turning away. "Unless you have something you want to add."

"I do not," said Rose.

"Then we are done here."


A/N: Before anyone kills me for taking Rose from the fight: if Thorn had insisted on it she would have stayed and assisted but he did not because he knows her. He knows that she does not respond well to conflict and a battle is a lot of aggrieve conflict nor does he want to her see her get hurt. As much as Thorn is inclined to detest Galbatorix he cares more for his Rider than revenge.
Unfortunately; I had to cut out some scenes from this chapter not because they didn't fit or I didn't like them- I had a lot of things I wanted to include and would have liked to- but because they were so long winded I cut it down. The story must move forward at some point.