Finally! The next chapter of the story. :) I know it took longer than my usual updating time and for that I'm sorry. But it's here and I know you're all very anxious to continue reading! :) And thank you for hitting the 500 mark, it makes me very happy to see that you all care for this story. RR.
The sound of mockingbirds filled the empty space with a form of life, whether it was imaginary or not. His mind was peaceful in that way. It could be what he wanted it to be. Eragon sighed as he sat in the meadow of rain lilies. It was beautiful, what his mind could conjure up. But despite its beauty, he would rather be back in his own body then trapped here. Because past this barrier was pure darkness.
It was hard to admit but his mind was starting to spin out of control. Or maybe he was just losing control of his own mind. He wasn't sure. But the ability to control his own body was becoming harder and harder. If it kept going on, then he would have to leave Ellesméra. He was stupid to actually leave the Empire in the first place. After trying so hard to break free of Galbatorix's grip, he couldn't survive without the Black King's help. Not even Oromis could save him.
"That's right." He turned to find himself standing before him. But this person wasn't him, rather the image of him. His shadow. The way he held himself spoke of conceit and the cold gleam in his eyes portrayed that of a killer. "You can't be saved now that you left our master, Eragon."
"Master?" said Eragon with a sharp ring to his voice. "Since when have I knelt and acknowledged him my master? He was my king."
"Ah, but a king is a master isn't he?" said Shadow Eragon with a smirk. "You serve them the same way, don't you?"
He didn't answer but watched as the shadow of himself began to move about the meadow his bare feet killing the flowers and leaving a dark patch everywhere he went. "You bowed your head to him, didn't you? You called him your majesty, and that is no different than calling him your master."
"He was never my master. He was only yours," retorted Eragon.
His shadow nodded, turning to smile coldly at him revealing a pair of mismatched eyes. Blue and violet. This was the only point in which they didn't match. "That's right, and what a kind master he has been."
"Kind?" said Eragon. "Would you call your state kind?"
"Oh, yes," said Shadow Eragon. "When the magic breaks, you won't have enough power in you to save your own soul."
"You wouldn't know that," said Eragon. His shadow laughed.
"I know," said Shadow Eragon. "Look at you now, reduced to nothing. Your own mind rebelling against you. If you can't control something that your essence is made of, how can you control your body?"
"I don't need you to mock me," snapped Eragon, earning another laugh.
"Oh, are we getting angry?" mocked shadow Eragon. "It's just too bad that Arya has left. Such a beautiful elf, don't you agree, Eragon?"
He didn't reply. "Of course you would, because you and I are one and the same. Those emerald green eyes, her luscious ebony hair. And let's not forget her rather pleasing figure."
"That's enough!" said Eragon angrily. "I've had enough conversation with you. Go back to your tomb!"
"Go back?" repeated shadow Eragon. "Go back?" He laughed. "I don't think you understand. I'm so happy like this. Why would I want to go back?"
"If you refuse to leave, then I shall make you," said Eragon, "Don't violate a place that is sacred to me." Holding out his hand, he watched as a blue flame began to appear before spreading out in a straight line. The flames began to mold and harden into a silver shine revealing a sword. Gripping it tightly, he swung it in a circle, crossing his arms expertly before him, the sword parallel to the slant of his body as he bent his knee.
"Then let us see which one of us is the stronger now," said shadow Eragon losing his smile to be replaced by a cold expression. A sword appeared in his hand, born from a violet flame. His stance was much different. He left his entire body open and his sword down by his side.
They stared at one another for a moment, before the two moved, both of them running for the other. Swinging his sword in an upwards slash, he gritted his teeth when it was meet by the other Eragon's own sword.
Moving back from the hit, he swung again only to have it met blade for blade. He should've known that it wouldn't be easy fighting his shadow. They were one in the same, a clone of each other. Predicting one another's move wasn't going to be difficult. Jumping, he turned with his sword arm outstretched, spinning in the air, he moved his blade in the circular direction, only to have it blocked for every hit. Jumping backwards, he barely brought up his sword to deflect the hit.
"For someone who is sick, you fight very well," said Shadow Eragon. "Some fun for once in my imprisonment!"
Stumbling as he was forced backwards with a shove, he regained his balance in time to bring his sword back up to meet Shadow Eragon's. The sparks that came forth showed how intensely they were fighting. "Imprisonment?" said Eragon. "It wouldn't be this way if you didn't bend to every one of Galbatorix's whims!"
"Bend?" growled Shadow Eragon. "No, he has promised me a future!"
"Future?" repeated Eragon. "Don't give me that! You call this a future?"
Dodging a swipe to the head, he shuffled his feet backwards, swaying lightly to the side, dodging blow after blow. "As long as I listen to his majesty's orders, I'll open a way to my future!"
"You want a future to live like me? To take control of me?" said Eragon, returning the attacks. "Don't make me laugh! That isn't called living!"
His words were getting to his shadow, the slight falter in his movements showing that Eragon was gaining the advantage. "You aren't living! You're just a shadow of me! Even if you do win, what will you gain?" said Eragon, as he swept his sword arm upwards. "He'll just use you as a puppet!"
"You don't understand!" roared shadow Eragon. "I want to be alive! I want to be able to feel, and as long as I remove you, then I will be able to live!"
"You fool!" The two of them made for one another, their swords raised, not faltering in the steps. "If only you could think for yourself!"
"If only you weren't in my way!"
Pulling back his left hand as the edge of their blades met, Eragon raised it to reveal a growing ball of sapphire energy. He'll finish this once and for all. This humiliation of not being in control of his mind and body. Of the fact that despite being halfway across Alagaësia, Galbatorix could still affect him.
"Don't be idiotic! Using magic in your own mind!" shouted shadow Eragon as he brought up his own hand to fend off the attack, a pulse of violet energy forming. "You could kill yourself!"
"As long as I can rid myself of you, then I'll do whatever it takes! I'd rather meet death's waiting arms than let you take what's mine!"
Releasing the magic, the sapphire light met the violet one and the result was a backlash of energy. Being thrown off his feet, he felt his breath leave him when he landed rather roughly on the ground. Suddenly, his body began to spasm from agony. The pain of it was scorching. His mind was damaged from the blast, and he was paying the price for bringing magic within the body.
Trying to reign in his seizing limbs, Eragon could barely make out the form of his shadow lying on the ground, clutching his head in the same amount of pain and agony. It was a dirty trick, but he couldn't let his shadow win. No matter what. Even if it meant killing himself to do it. But Saphira…he couldn't abandon her.
Trying to grasp control of his mind and body, he groaned painfully when he tried to get to one foot. The pain was immeasurable. His body was refusing to corporate with him. It was pitiful really . . . how his shadow desired so much to be real.
But without a heart, his shadow could never achieve that dream.
Galbatorix had given him a body and a mind, but not a heart. Feeling was out of his reach. Or at least that was what Eragon had assumed. Struggling to get to his feet, he panted watching in disbelief as shadow Eragon rose too, his hand a glowing violet. More magic?
His mental capacity couldn't withstand the damage. Dodging a blast of violet, he felt pain erupt in his mind. Then something began to happen that he didn't expect. A golden dust began to rain down from the endless blackness that surrounded them, and along with it, the fragments of his mind.
Gripping his head, Eragon let out a shout of pain as his mind began to collapse into fragments. Memories torn asunder, thoughts jumbled together. Falling to his knees, he couldn't minimize the pain he was going through no matter how hard he tried. Was this the end for him? Was he going to die?
But he never even got a chance to speak his heart yet . . . not to his father nor his mother. Just thinking about all of those times in which he and his mother couldn't talk without the limitations of the pain and torment that he had went through. Of the guilt that she couldn't protect him. The thought of him not talking to them again made his heart pound furiously in his chest. No!
This wasn't going to be the end of him. He wasn't going to lose here. Not after everything he had went through. Not after how long he fought to break free from Galbatorix and the nonexistent life that he led until now.
It was almost nonexistent as it crept up on him — an emerald light bursting forth from the shadows, glowing brighter and brighter until it rose up like a towering wall, encircling him and protecting him.
"Emerald light?" muttered Eragon to himself, feeling the pain slowly drain away. Getting to his feet, he watched as the fragment of his mind began to weave itself together again with the aid of another blue light. "Could it be Saphira and Arya?"
He turned as the emerald and blue light began to engulf him, like a warm blanket. Suddenly feeling rather drowsy, he didn't fight the blackness that engulfed him.
Falling . . .
He was falling . . .
And this time, there was no one to catch him.
"Eragon, that's enough, sweetheart." Tiredly blinking his eyes open, he frowned, wearily staring about himself. A field of flowers, he was lying in a field of flowers. Clovers to be exact. With a groan, he moved into a sitting position.
He turned towards the sound of the voice. Sitting with a young boy was his mother. She wore a beautiful dress.
Those were the good times.
Until he became a dragon rider, he was happy. Leaving with his mother, being able to feel her warmth, meant everything to him. But what happened to them these past years? Was it his fault? Or was it his mother's? The resentment he had long lived with, the sadness. . .
Ever since that unfaithful day, he couldn't find it in him to talk to his mother like he used to. And that was when the barriers slowly grew, growing bigger and bigger by the years. Did she blame herself? Eragon didn't blame her.
Though maybe it was because she had suffered just as much as he did, having to see her son struggle. Not being able to protect him.
I wish that I . . .
"Eragon . . ." He frowned, that voice, it didn't belong anywhere in his mind. "Eragon . . ."
Tiredly blinking, he frowned when he opened his eyes to the ceiling of what seemed to be a cave. What was going on? Turning his head slightly, he jumped at the sight of Arya sitting on the ground beside him, studying him intently.
Moving into a sitting position, he observed their surroundings. From the looks of it, the cave wasn't overly large, just big enough for them and the dragons to fit. From the sound of pouring water and clashes from the outside, he deducted that there was a large storm rolling about out there.
That made everything the more dangerous. As long as he was with Arya and there was a chance of acting up, he was afraid he could potentially harm her. This wasn't a good idea. "How are you feeling?"
Eragon glanced at her for a moment. "Tired." He answered, trying to avoid looking into her eyes.
She nodded. They sat there for a moment, neither speaking until it was Arya who broke the silence. "Was something wrong?"
He gave her a questioning look. "You were seizing in pain not long ago and when I went to help you, I couldn't reach your mind."
So that was it. What could he say to her? Saphira refused to interfere with their conversation and opted to speak with Eridor leaving him to think of a reply. But for some reason, his mind wouldn't want to cooperate with him. The internal damage must still be lingering on him.
"I would rather not tell you," said Eragon at last. "I need to speak with Master Oromis first."
"I see." Did she? Eragon wondered. Since Arya was an elf, he knew that she wouldn't visibly pry for information, a trait that he was grateful for as he didn't feel the need to reveal anything to her.
"But I thank you." At her questioning stare, he elaborated. "For saving me, that is."
"There is no need for thanks, I am sure that if you were in the same situation that I was in, you would save my life as well." Her eyes flickered to the ceiling of the cave before returning back to him. "Consider it a debt repaid for what you did for me in Gil'ead."
"Then I will." Eragon nodded. Searching for a change of subject, he glanced outside at the downpour. "How long have we been here?"
"Half a day," said Arya. "When it rains in Du Weldenvarden, it doesn't stop for quite a while. I'm sure that it's storming within Ellesméra at the moment."
"It looks rather severe." Commented Eragon.
She nodded. Keeping his eyes on the rain, Eragon let his mind wander. Rain . . . was it a blessing or was it a curse? He had often wondered about that. It gave life to plants and water to animals, respite to those who live on Alagaësia but it also clouded their sun and made their days colder. When one looked at it from a view point, sometimes what gives blessing is also what makes curses.
"You seem deep in thought," said Arya softly from where she sat next to him.
"Rain . . . what do you think of it?" asked Eragon. She turned to him, her green eyes questioning and curious.
"Rain?"
He nodded.
She sat there deep in thought. "I've always thought of rain a mere product of nature, nothing more, nothing less," she said eventually.
Eragon chuckled. That was right, she was an elf. She wouldn't believe in spiritual thoughts and beliefs. "I should've predicted that you would give that answer," said Eragon.
She arched an eyebrow. "And what do you think of rain?"
He shrugged. "I guess it depends on what I feel of it. Sometimes I look at it as a blessing but other times, it almost seems like a curse." He smiled slightly. "At times when I see rain, I often think of myself. Whether being who I am was a blessing because I've gotten to see many people and have Saphira hatch for me. Or was it a curse? Because of my constant struggle to live to today."
"But in the end, it's all the same. After it rains, the sun will come up. Like with my life, after everything is over and down with, I may be able to enjoy its warmth," said Eragon. "Because ever since I became a dragon rider, I've always lived for tomorrow. Just to make it through another day, to continue living. And because of tomorrow, I sacrificed my life today."
Suddenly when a hand reached out to grip his, he nearly jumped, not expecting Arya to do anything of the sort. Her emerald green eyes were bright in the darkness as they seem to pierce his soul. "Then live for today."
He blinked. Live for today? Live for now? But how could he when what he wanted was tomorrow? That what he had desired most in his heart was a future in which he could experience things that he was deprived off? The thought had never occurred to him... and yet for Arya to say something like that. "The future is important but you shouldn't call it a future when what you did yesterday had no meaning to it."
Her words made his eyes widen. And in his heart, he knew that she was true. That living a life without meaning was worthless. That living for the sake of living had no future to it. But how could he live for the present and not worry about the future? About what could possibly happen to him? That sort of thinking, he never thought of it, never let it affect him. But now, when Arya had said it, the words seem to hold a different meaning.
"Eragon." He blinked, focusing as he stared into her eyes, feeling the warmth of her hand. "You and I are friends, so trust me."
And so, what is happening with Eragon? You'll just have to wait to find out! Hopefully, it won't be too long. :) Besides that I hope you all review and tell me what you think. :) See you next chapter!