Hello everyone!
I am uploading two chapters today so don't skip chapter 4! The story is going to pick up in pace starting at this chapter! Let me know what you think in the reviews!
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North.
What? You mean to Du Weldenvarden? We cannot risk changing Arya's fate. The egg must get to Eragon. She's probably getting ready to start traveling to Du Weldenvarden right now with the egg. I said in response to Brom.
That is why we go, by the time we arrive she will be going from city to city to see if the egg will hatch. We could intercept her months before she and her companions are ambushed, and would that be so bad?! Even you said you didn't know what truly happened to Arya when she was captured by Durza! He responded with just as much heat as I did.
I told you she was just tortured. My response was quick.
And what do you think that means for a female elf, a beautiful one at that. You would condemn someone to such a fate when we could change it. We travel to Ellesmera and get the egg. Take it to Carvahall, make sure Eragon finds it, and two elves live and Arya is better off for it. He stated.
"We do not know the repercussions it will bring!" I argued back, tired of the mental link.
"And I do not care boy. I will not let such a thing happen to someone I call friend, not while I have the means to change it." I had forgotten his connection to Arya.
I was trying to come up with a counter argument when he continued. "I have told you before, just you being here has changed everything. What if the egg doesn't hatch for Eragon and instead hatches for you, or some mason's son from Ceunon! Why are you here if not to change things boy!? You think I want my son going through half of the things I did, do you think being a rider is without risk?!"
He's scared for Eragon.
I replied immediately "I am not even sure how we won in the books. I am trying to keep the circumstances the same. Half of the knowledge doesn't even make sense, he leaves to find an edge against Galbatorix somewhere on Vroengard and then it's all blank. Nothing, no memory of the final battle, I don't even know if he casts a spell to kill him, if it's with his blade or if a meteor come from space to strike him down."
He looks at me with shock after that revelation. "What do you mean it's all blank?! You said we win!"
"We do. I just don't know how. I can remember Eragon riding off into the sunset to restart the order. It has to be him."
Silence.
"We need to plan more. If you truly want to intercept her before Durza does, we need to plan." I stated after a moment of consideration. "In any scenario, Eragon must become the rider."
"We travel and prepare you for what's to come. Either way we head to Therinsford. I have a feeling you have more to play in this than you know." He finally said to me. "I need to think." as we started along our path.
We didn't talk again until we had already camped for the night. No spar as was customary, Brom was deep in thought.
I made a decision to tell Brom everything, from the first book until Eragon's journey to the forsaken island of Vroengard. I told him of his death, of Ajihad's death, Murtagh's kidnapping, Nasuada's ascension, Oromis' and Glaedr's death, Islanzadi, everything. We went to bed with thoughts on the future and our plans.
"If we are truly to change everything. We must be prepared, after all we need to face off against a Shade in around a year if we are to save Arya. It's time you let me try to use magic, after all I am almost fully fluent." I told Brom as we were traveling.
"Yes, you are as prepared as any has been. You remember the rules I taught you on the way to Teirm?" He asked.
I was quick to respond, "I've been helping you design spells for months now. I understand how it works. May I try?"
"Yes, you know how to push your mind outwards but this time I want you to look within and find the energy within you. Tap into it and do something simple, like rising a stone. Be careful not to let your thoughts stray, use the Ancient Language to start. I know you know that it isn't necessary but it is a good way to focus your intent." He told me.
I had suspected a long time ago on how to actually go about casting magic but I had refrained from trying out of respect for Brom teaching me. Now that I had the go ahead I focused on myself, looking in towards my body for that familiar energy. It was different from taking energy from animal kills, where there's looked like a muddy brown in my minds eye, mine was like a white river flowing through me. I found it almost immediately, focusing on the task I willed the energy forward and spoke 'stone, rise' and the stone I was focusing on rose to my palm and settled there, I cut off the energy.
"That was surprisingly easy….." Was the first thing I thought of.
"Yes well not many have such a good grasp of energy manipulation or knowledge of the language when they start. Congratulations, you're a magician. Don't let me catch you doing something stupid." He stated.
Thinking for a moment. "Can I try using the energy stored in my necklace?"
"I would prefer you used that energy to practice actually. Don't want you worn out before we spar everyday after all. You just need to get used to channeling the energy through your body, and that gem will help."
"I'm a fucking wizard."
By the time we reached Therinsford we had already decided on saving Arya and her companions. We were going to travel to Ceunon and then head east to the elves to get them to agree with the rest of our plan. I really wanted to meet Oromis now that the plot was out the window.
Now I just had to bring up and convince Brom to let me do some body modification to make me stronger and faster, piece of cake.
"Absolutely not." Was his immediate response.
"Why not?"
He was quick to answer. "If your concentration wavered for even a second, you could kill yourself. And that's assuming the modification itself doesn't kill you."
"I know more about biology than arguably anyone alive, I know how to make small improvements to give me an edge. An edge I will need if we're facing a shade and an all powerful tyrant." I didn't tell him that I wasn't going to make just 'small' improvements. "Here look, I already know the wording I am going to use. I'm prepared." I said as I handed him a piece of paper.
"You wish to sing to accomplish this?" He said after reading it.
"Yes and I only want to do small things at first. A slight increase in bone and muscle density, increase of agility, efficiency of red blood cells, things like that." I replied.
He took a while to speak again. "You will wait until we reach Ellesmera and we will receive council from my master and others before we even think about doing this."
On our way to Ceunon, I was in a state of constant training, whether it be talking to Brom in the ancient language, practicing mind magic, casting training spells, or sparring with Brom. The longer we spar, the more I realized that a sword was not going to be my main weapon. It had only been about 5 months but I could tell that I was going to plateau in skill soon. I could already give most human soldiers a run for their money but I would never rely on pure swordplay. It was the main reason all my effort was going into my dagger. It was easy to incorporate it into close combat, where I truly shined. Using my superior fighting skills, I could get in close using my fists and feet, draw my dagger and the fight was over. It was actually my gameplan for the races that were superior in speed and strength, Jiu-Jitzu is the perfect counter for them. It didn't matter how strong or fast you were when I grabbed you, maybe a less experienced practitioner would have trouble but I was not inexperienced.
I was also making headway with a diagnostic spell, something I could use to boost healing spells. I also wanted to get a baseline of my vitals before I started making any improvements to my body. Engineering these spells were becoming a hobby of mine, it was very interesting and also stimulating at the same time. I had already perfected a morning spell, something to clean my body and mouth while also combing my beard and hair at the same time. Brom called me lazy, and then promptly asked me for the spell.
Magic is awesome.
Speaking of magic. "Why don't people have wards up constantly?" I asked Brom.
"Good question. Most people aren't that paranoid honestly. Only master magicians or elves have wards up constantly and they typically take them down once inside Du Weldenvarden or Ellesmera." he replied.
"Why don't you always have yours up?"
"It started when I had just lost Saphira. I had a death wish, I took them down hoping it would be something random and instantaneous that killed me. I thought myself cursed for the longest time, cursed with life. I could not die on the battlefield. Now I know I had another purpose." He finished while looking at me.
"I suppose I like the thrill of knowing any moment can be my last." he added when I didn't respond.
"Well I need you to live a little longer, so if you would kindly put them up that would be great." I told him completely ignoring the fact that he sees me as his purpose.
"When do you plan on telling Eragon?" I was full of random questions today.
His eyes took on a look of anguish. "I am not sure." He said with a tone that signaled the end of the conversation.
Ceunon was a very unique city. There was a wall but not like the towering 100 foot wall of Teirm. It was only around 50 feet tall and 20 feet wide. There were no towering structures either, all the buildings were made of wood with shingles for the roof. The people here were also very merry it seemed like. Everyone wore a smile.
Is it because of their proximity to the elves? Or because they're so far from the oppressive tyrant.
In the end they did not stay but 3 days, only enough time to rest and resupply before heading east towards Osilon.
It was around 3 days into our journey when I noticed something was wrong, there was something that was touching my mind every few hours. It had the faintest touch I had ever felt, and Brom was no slouch at the mind arts. I decided against telling Brom of the anomaly, from what I could tell it wasn't malicious in nature, more curious.
Things continued this way for another day or so before the anomaly made itself known. It did that in the only way it knows how apparently.
I woke up with a white cat sleeping on my chest, it was the strangest experience of my life.
Quit moving. I heard a femine voice tell me as I lifted my head up.
Red eyes met mine and instantly I knew that my mysterious anomaly was a werecat. Oh not another one. I thought.
My son was right, I think you'll be intriguing. Was her answer as she hopped off of me and started stretching.
Your son?
Yes, the only other of my kind you have met. Solembum.
Instantly I knew I was speaking to Shadowhunter, the mate of Grimrr Halfpaw and future queen of the werecats.
Werecats do not have kings or queens, only representatives during the rare occasion we make decisions concerning our kinds fate.
Well that was interesting information to know. So I assume you are going to tag along our expedition to change fate.
There is no 'fate'. There are only things that will happen and things that won't happen. But yes I wish to accompany you.
Just like that, our party grew to three. This just got a lot more interesting.
"We are getting close to Du Weldenvarden." Brom said as I was softly petting Shadowhunter. She liked to ride with me on Cadoc, who seemed oddly spooked at her presence.
"That's exciting."
"Yes but there are some things I need to teach you about how to properly greet an elf." He continued.
How did I forget about the traditional greetings, what kind of fan am I?
"When you go to greet an elf, before the conversation starts. The parties involved touch two fingers to their lips. This indicates 'we shall not disturb the truth during our conversation.'" he began. "This is followed by the phrase 'Atra esterní ono thelduin' to which one replies 'Atra du e arínya ono arda.'"
"And," Brom continued, "if you are being especially formal, a third response is made: 'Un atra mor'ranr llífa unin hjarta onr,' which means, 'And may peace live in your heart.'"
I decided to play along even though I already knew most of the information. "How do you know who starts the interaction?"
"If you greet someone with greater status than yourself or if you wish to honour someone, then speak first. If you greet someone with less status than yourself, speak last. But if you are not sure, give the other person a chance to speak, and if they say nothing, speak first. It is an unspoken rule." Brom finished.
"Or maybe it is a spoken rule, I can't remember. Just stick to what I told you and you'll be fine." He added with a thoughtful expression.
The really old elves do not care so much to be honest, it's only the ones who think they are important that put a lot of weight on formalities. Rhunon is my favorite of all of them. Our tag along decided to add to the conversation.
That was one thing on my to do list, try to obtain a weapon from the old smith. Maybe even learn a thing or to about the enchantments she puts on rider swords.
As we continued to travel and train, it took another day and a half to reach the edge of the legendary forest. I was full of energy and excitement thinking about meeting some of my favorite characters of the series.
In the end it was kind of anti climactic, nothing seemed to change except for the scenery for another 2 weeks. No hint of an elf or anything.
It was a little over the month mark before we got close to Osilon, we were hugging fairly close to the mountains to help guide us.
That was when I met my first elf. As we were exiting the small mountain range we noticed him on the road ahead. He had obviously been waiting for us.
Have they been watching us? I asked my companions.
Most likely, we will never know. They are the masters of this forest and rarely do they have travelers. Even more rare is an escort, they must have noticed the cat. Brom supplied.
Werecat you old monkey.
Is that an evolutionary joke? I asked after their banter ceased. I got no answer.
"What is your purpose here?" the elf asked in english once we got close enough. I noticed he had his hand on the hilt of his sword.
Brom touched two fingers to his lips and started the traditional greeting. "Atra esterní ono thelduin."
The elf's eyes grew wide and he quickly responded by touching two fingers to his lips "Atra du e arínya ono arda." He obviously wasn't expecting that.
"We journey to Ellesmera, we are unannounced but…" he trailed off as he flashed Aren on his right hand.
His reaction was not what I expected. The elf's face morphed into a full blown smile as he switched back to the Ancient Language. "A friend of the crown? Forgive my rudeness, I shall escort you there. We will have to stop at Osilon to tell my people before we leave."
"Of course, but not for too long. We are in a hurry." I decided to respond.
He looked at me and stared for a second, I met his eyes with an unwavering gaze. He seemed satisfied after his appraisal of me.
"We shall ride with haste then." He responded and like that he was running.
We rode long and hard and reached Osilon the next day. We discovered that our escort was an elf that went by the name of Vaus and he was slightly older than Arya, maybe 125 or so, which by their standards was still very young.
He was also very very fast and could run for forever. Honestly elves were broken.
I really really wanted to cast my perfected diagnostic spell on him to see what made them tick but I was sure he wouldn't take kindly to that. He didn't speak much, only when spoken to, or to give me tips on my swordplay when he watched us spar that night.
I could tell he wanted to ask questions about us but he held his tongue, I was doing the same. There was a lot you could learn from picking the brain of an elf.
When we rode into Osilon, I started to notice how the bottoms of the trees looked to be hollowed out, just like in the books. I have got to learn how to do that. There were probably a couple thousand elves living in the city and it seemed all of them got the memo of a man wearing Aren traveling to Du Weldenvarden. We were openly stared at by what seemed to be all of them as we waited on Vaus to finish speaking to who I assumed was the leader of the city.
I did not expect my comment of us being in a hurry to be taken so literally because when he exited the tree, he jumped on a horse and we were gone again.
To change the fate of so many.
A/N: Review please. I'm a little worried about my pacing of the chapters, let me know what y'all think.
I also want to clear up that the mind magic that keep people from remembering the Rock of Kuthian is the reason that our SI has the gap in his knowledge of the books. He can't remember how Eragon defeated Galby because it was powered by the Eldunari that are inside the Rock of Kuthian. I couldn't justify making him immune to the mind magic. If you see any inconsistencies throughout the story regarding this let me know!