Not too sure about this chapter, a good half of it is just for the joke in the title. If you don't get the joke in the title then... well who give a fuck about you... WAIT I give a fuck about you please stay, please review, PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME!
Well have fun.
Chapter 6: My First Kiss Went A Little Like ARGH!
Saphira turned her gaze to him as he returned late the next morning, worried and afraid.
Not for the reasons one might think, she wasn't afraid of rejection and his continued spite, or rather she had been but no longer, not when she saw him, stumbling along, pale and shivering like crazy.
'E-Eragon...' she tried, but his mind was closed, completely, not even the slightly hint of an opening could be found in the steel walls that surrounded him.
He walked in, apparently ignoring her, though whether or not he noticed her or not was a good question. Zar'roc was tossed onto the ground beside Durza, where it lay, and tossed the formal clothing down there as well, having apparently collected it from the hall and then Eragon set himself down on the mattress staring at the cold wall opposing him.
Saphira lifted her bulk and moved towards him, placing her face in front of his and looking him dead in the eye. This had been the first night since Gilead, so long ago now, that they had spent away from each other, or rather, more importantly that she had to spend away from him.
"Saphira?" he looked at her numbly, his face was gaunt, not cold but confused maybe, she couldn't be sure "Oh, right" there was comprehension in his gaze now "We were fighting..." he frowned "Of course... we were fighting."
Saphira looked at him, half angry, half shocked. Had he forgotten it already? Why had he forgotten it?
Eragon's gaze turned to the floor and his shivering increased, his hands shaking.
'Eragon what...' she growled slightly, he still had his impenetrable walls up.
"Oh, right, sorry. I'm blocking my mind aren't I... sorry" he said, waving a hand in front of him, as if searching for the words "I really don't feel like opening it right now though."
Saphira's blue gaze followed him as he went to sit on the edge of his bed, worry the main emotion in her sapphire blue eyes.
He lay down, lying flat on his back, staring up at the ceiling.
She moved to sit on her own pillow, keeping her gaze on him, keeping as close as she could and ready to move the second he needed her.
It was over an hour later than his finally spoke.
"Saphira... I'm sorry..." she looked up as he spoke, the sorrow bleeding through his voice, despite his numb and blank tone "I understand your feelings… I think... Please understand mine."
She nodded, still watching with worry.
He looked at her out of the corner of his eye "I want you to know something" Eragon looked back up at the ceiling "Something I hadn't thought of before... but something you should know already" he stood then closed the distance between the and knelt down by her and stroked her snout, receiving a pleasured growl in response "Saphira... you are my one true love" she blinked at him, surprised "No matter what, I will always love you, no matter who I meet, no matter who I care for, you will always be more important than them, nothing can change that, the heavens will tumble to earth before my love for you fades in the slightest... I swear it."
The last part came mentally, and she touched back at his mind, wary. It was open, the walls once standing tall and menacing had faded, mostly. There was an area, a place she was barred from, certain memories he didn't want her to see, but she didn't mind, after all she had an area just like that and so could hardly blame him.
They embraced minds, letting all their emotions flood over, she felt his in their entirety, strange and twisting as they were, flickering from anger to sadness to hate to love to pain all in the space of seconds, never settled, like he was unsure of what to feel.
And Eragon in turn felt hers, her love for him, her desire to help him in whatever way she could, and her worry's, her jealousy, though she had been reassured the emotion hadn't faded.
He sighed 'What can I do to convince you, Saphira?'
She was silent, it was unnerving to be seen in her entirety like this, degrading even, but at the same time refreshing, like they would understand each other better afterwards, not to mention the fact that he apparently didn't feel any of this, none of the shame of bearing himself fully to her, that really ticked her off.
'There must be something?' Eragon thought, more to himself than her, trailing through his head for something, anything to reassure her that he loved her.
"Alright" a smirk wrestled onto his face "It sort of important amongst humans, not sure about the other races but still. Anyway, will you accept?"
'Of course' she said, utterly clueless as to what she was going to receive.
'Alright' he bent down moving close to her.
"A kiss from a dragon" he said two minutes later, still spitting out blood "It's rather dangerous."
'Well you showed me what you knew about kissing, what was I supposed to do?' she muttered defensively, watching him with concern, and amusement.
"No, no, I don't blame you, I would've done the same" he said, his speech a bit odd due to his damaged tongue, and the blood still gushing out of his mouth "but still... why are dragons tongue's barbed?"
'So that we can tear meat from bones' she inputted, as he spat out another globule of blood.
"And tear tongues in mouths?" he spat out more blood, then reached for his magic "Waise heill" his tongue slowly reformed in his mouth, he had to pause once to spit out more blood but by the end he had a brand spanking new tongue.
"Ugh" he stretched it out, sticking his tongue out as far as it would go, then swilled it around his mouth "Feels weird" it was really uncomfortable, having a new tongue, as if it wasn't quite sure of its place in his body.
"So tell me" Eragon smirked over at Saphira, a new tongue unable to stop his arrogance "Did I taste good?"
Saphira chortled 'Yes little one, you blood and flesh are the most delicious I have ever tasted.
He gasped in mock surprise 'I am honoured. Truly you do me great kindness with your glorifying words.'
Eragon stuck his tongue out again, it still felt really awkward "Come on, let go get lunch, I'm starving."
Saphira tore into her bloody haunch, eating with all the haste of a starving man, whilst still remaining as noble as the greatest of queens.
Eragon, on the other hand, ate very slowly, testing his new tongue on all his food and getting it used to the tastes that it had, for all intents and purposes, never tasted before.
It was then that Jarsha approached them, like before he stared wide eyed at Saphira as she nibbled off the end of a leg bone
Eragon swilled his tongue about a bit before speaking, it felt really, really odd "What's up?" he really hoped the Council of Elders hadn't summoned him, and if they had he'd kill them for daring to order him. He hadn't heard from the old fucks since the funeral, which was good, for them, fewer chances for him to kill them.
Jarsha turned away from Saphira long enough to say "Nasuada would like to see you, sir. She's waiting for you in her father's study" before turning right back to gawk at the dragon.
He nodded and turned to Saphira himself "Are you done, or do you need more time?"
She rolled her eyes at him and fit the rest of the meat into her mouth, including the bone which snapped with a loud crack 'I'm done.'
"You can go Jarsha, I know the way" he said to the kid, stomping off towards the study... he hoped.
'Or rather, I know the way, right little one?' Saphira taunted.
'Exactly.'
It took them almost half an hour to reach it, because of the mountains immense size, not because they got lost.
During Ajihad's rule the door had been guarded by two men, now an entire squad of battle hardened warriors stood before it.
Despite the fact that there was no way they could fail to recognise Eragon they still barred his way, forcing Eragon to a stop. He paused for about a second "I can't be doing with this shit" and continued walking, shifting the warriors out of his way "Out of the way, Rider coming through, not stopping, shift."
Though they complained, they didn't dare try and stop him and parted before him and Saphira, the large body of the sapphire blue lizard possibly a greater incentive than the human sized Rider, and they was given entry to the study, where Nasuada sat behind the broad desk.
There was only one change to the office. A small vase of purple flow, unobtrusive, yet undeniably there. Nasuada had expertly made her own stamp on the room, without obliterating Ajihad's memory.
Nasuada herself was still dressed in the black of mourning, showing her continued grief.
Eragon flopped into the seat before her, Saphira settling behind him.
There was a small smile on her face as she waved away the soldier who tried to apologise "I must remind my guards to kill you if you ever actually stop for them."
"You do that" he replied blandly.
The soldier left and Nasuada's face lost its amusement, her visage turning steely and intent "I have spent the last few days reviewing the Varden's affairs, such as they are. It was a dismal exercise. We are poor, over extended, and low on supplies, and few recruits are joining us from the empire. I mean to change that."
"Bold words" he said, his own voice level "How?"
She paused "The dwarves cannot support us much longer, as it's been a lean year for farming and they've suffered losses of their own. Considering this, I have decided to move the Varden to Surda."
That actually gave Eragon pause, he hadn't expected something like that "Ambitious."
Nasuada nodded "It's a difficult proposition, but one I believe necessary to keep us face. Once in Surda we will finally be close enough to engage the empire directly."
Saphira shifted, that surprised even her.
"So you weren't kidding in your speech, huh?"
A brow was raised at him "Why would I 'kid'?"
"Because that's what leaders do, it's pretty much a requirement, make people believe, give them hope, but rarely actually do anything. Leaders aren't really there to do anything anyway, other people make the decisions and sort everything out, they just sign it off, make a few speeches and occasionally be seen fighting or frolicking."
"I don't intent to be that type of leader" she said sternly.
"Good, 'cause..."
"'I don't want a stupid leader'" she quoted "I understand."
Eragon grinned "That... uh, what's his name, the Surda bloke, I thought he didn't dare oppose old Galby directly."
Nasuada smiled grimly "Orrin's stance has changed since we defeated the Urgals. He will shelter and feed us and fight by our side. Many Varden are already in Surda, mainly women and children who couldn't or wouldn't fight. They will also support us, else I will strip our name from them."
"How did you communicate with this Orrin so fast? It's barely been" he thought about it, then gave up. His time in the tunnels had thrown off his sense of time "A few days since it became safe to send out messengers, so unless Ajihad planned this already, there wouldn't be time."
"The dwarves use a system of mirrors and lanterns to relay messages through their tunnels" she explained "They can send a dispatch from here to the western edge of the Beor Mountains in less than a day. Couriers then transport it to Aberon, capital of Surda. Fast as it is, that method is still too slow when Galbatorix can surprise us with an Urgal army and give us less than a day's notice. I intend to arrange something far more expedient between Du Vrangr Gata and Hrothgar's magicians before we go."
Nasuada retrieved a thick scroll from a draw of the desk "The Varden will depart Farthen Dur within the month. Hrothgar has agreed to provide us with safe passage through the tunnels. Moreover, he sent a force to Orthiad to remove the last vestiges or Urgals and seal the tunnels so no one can invade the dwarves by that route again. As this may not be enough to guarantee the Varden's survival, I have a favour to ask of you."
"Ask away" he said with a yawn, rubbing at his eyes.
"To help rally support for the Varden, I wish to spread word throughout the empire that a new Rider, named Eragon Shadeslayer, and his Dragon, Saphira, have joined our cause. I would like your permission before doing so however."
Saphira immediately objected 'It's too dange...'
"Do it" he cut over her.
'Eragon!'
'Saphira' he smoothly interrupted 'Galbatorix has taken so much from me... from us. He has taken a part of my family, and two others who were as good as family' she became mournful as she felt hissorrow 'You are also my family, and so my family is your family, meaning that he has taken family from you too, increasing his crimes.'
'But...'
'And so' he spoke over her again 'If it came down to it, a choice, between serving Galbatorix or dying, which would you choose? For I know which I would, I would kill me myself if I had too.'
'Up until now' she argued 'he has wanted you alive, even when you fought Durza he wished to capture, not kill, you. What kind of plots or tricks do you think he had held in abeyance while he tried to gain control of us? Speaking out openly will crush any hope he has of convincing us and then he will try to kill us.'
'Saphira' he was calm, versus her panic 'Tell me, would the Shade Rider, Eragon, and the Mighty Dragon, Saphira, truly use a tool such as ambiguity as a shield to protect themselves from the wrath of the Black King?'
'If so' he continued not giving her a chance torespond 'Why are we bothering to fight him in honourable warfare, why not simply poison his food instead. In fact why not simply poison the entire empire, kill all of his citizens, then what will he matter, he will be a broken king, sitting on the throne of a broken empire, all others free to live in peace.'
'Eragon...'
'Saphira' he interrupted her, again, meeting her eyes, unlike all others Saphira did not react as she stared into his maddening crimson eyes, she did not flinch or look away, she stared right into the inferno, knowing it was looking back 'Stand tall, against a man who has slaughtered the entire race of Dragon's, or bow to the fear of what devilry he could unleash upon us, which would your ancestors have chosen?'
She snarled at him 'Fine!' she roared out at him, his final stab hitting right where it could hurt and wound her the most, her pride 'We will stand. We will fight with all our might. We will kill the forsaken king, and tear down his blackened empire. In the name of my ancestors, in the name of my Father and my Mother, whose names I do not know, we will fight. We will stand by the Warder's as Dragon and Rider, as friends, as lovers, as companions, and the Empire will FALL!'
A smirk trawled across his face, pure arrogant pride in that face 'There's my girl.'
"Spread the word of Saphira, Mighty Empress of the Skies, whose scales are a blue so pure it puts the sky itself to shame and of her Rider, Eragon, Slayer of Shades, whose eyes reflect the blood of his enemies" he grinned in her direction, doing the dramatization for her "Let it be known, though, that I do not seek the King's throne, I seek only vengeance for all he has taken from me, all the pain he has caused me" he made sure to meet Nasuada's eye "Nothing more."
Nasuada graced him with a smile at his dramatics "Thank you, I know it's a lot to ask, and I will see your requests done" but then her smile faded and she surveyed him carefully "Eragon, may I ask you a person question?"
"Sure, no guarantee I'll answer though."
"Do you fight with the Varden solely for your vengeance? Are we simply a tool in your vengeance?"
Black almond shaped eyes met with bloody crimson, unlike Saphira Nasuada did react to his gaze, her shoulder hunched in slightly, as if she was trying to make herself less of a target, and her breathing hitched, just a bit, but otherwise no changes could be observed.
"I..." Eragon started, then stopped, considering it. His gaze moved from Nasuada to the two swords that rested on his hip "I didn't come here seeking vengeance. I came here to help Arya, nothing more. Then I found an army, rag tag maybe, not very organised or swelling in numbers, but with connections and power, so I stuck around, when Arya was well I didn't simply leave, partly because I wanted to fight the Urgals, partly because I though you lot might be useful."
He looked up now, turning his gaze to a lamp high on the wall "My vengeance is the reason I fought with you, whether the reason I still fight with you as that... I don't know. I've seen injustices, I've seen pain and misery, and I don't know if it's Galbatorix's fault, I don't know if a just government can make everything sunshine and rainbows, but..."
He stopped again, thinking harder, wanting to answer her, as a show of his loyalty to her, if nothing else "I'll see your father's ambition through to the end. You can be sure of that, and only that."
Nasuada stared at him long and hard before finally speaking "I see. As we discussed before the funeral" she changed subjects quickly, not wanting to prolong his discomfort, not to mention her own "I expect you to travel to Ellesmera and complete your training."
"With Arya?"
"Of course. The elves have refused contact with both humans and dwarves ever since she was captured. Arya is the only being who can convince them to emerge from seclusion."
"They are sounding more and more like a group of right cunts" he stated "Can't she use magic to tell them?"
"Unfortunately, no. When the elves retreated in Du Weldenvarden after the fall of the riders, they placed wards around the forest that prevent any thoughts, item or being from entering it through arcane means, though not from exiting it, if I understood Arya's explanation."
Eragon scowled playfully "And I wasn't invited for this discussion between my two favourite ladies."
She gave him a mile "I never thought to do so. Arya must physically visit Du Weldenvarden before Queen Islanzadi will know that she is alive, that you and Saphira exist, and of the numerous events that have befallen the Varden these past months."
Nasuada now handed him the scroll stamped with a wax sigil.
"This is a missive for Queen Islanzadi, telling her about the Varden's situation and my own plans. I mention nothing of your... circumstances, however, it is your right to tell her or not, and I fear I could not explain it if I tried. Please guard it well, it would cause a great deal of harm in the wrong hands."
"I hope that after all that's happened Islanzadi will feel kindly enough towards us to reinstate diplomatic ties. Her assistance could mean the difference between victory and defeat. Arya knows this and has agreed to press our case, but I wanted you aware of the situation too, so you could take advantage of any opportunity that might arise."
"If she refuses to" he said, tucking the scroll into his jerkin "I'm not sticking around, I'll be right back at your side, after informing the good Queen to go fuck herself."
"Thank you" she smiled wryly at him "That's... reassuring."
"When do we leave?"
"Tomorrow morning... unless you have something planned?"
"You think I'm here arranging play dates?" he growled at her, no real malice in it "I'm following the Varden waiting for the next great slaughter, this is where the good battles will be. Otherwise I'd be out there" he waved randomly "Doing something productive like killing troops, attacking supplies, instead of sitting here waiting."
Nasuada looked at him gravely, his violent comments causing her concern "Eragon... what will you do if... no, when, the Varden defeats Galbatorix?"
"Huh" Eragon blinked "Me?"
"Yes" she nodded "Immediately afterward there will no doubt be great need of you, people will seek your advice and council, and doubtless you would get to engage in slaughter often with rebels and loyalists and other hoping to take advantage of the chaos, but afterwards there will be peace. What will you do then?"
Eragon met her gaze again, even and calm with just a hint of a smile "You don't want me causing trouble, huh?" to Nasuada's credit she didn't react, not in the slightest "Once Galbatorix lies dead, my vengeance will be complete, the end. After that I'm gone, I'll spend my days doing what I want, avoiding all lives other than Saphira, that's all I really want. Unless of course" he grinned "I find a reason to stay" his gaze appraised her form, his smile leaving no unspoken words unspoken.
Nasuada considered it for many moments, not what he was offering, the bit before that "You are strange."
"How kind of you" he said, rolling his eyes.
"I did not mean to cause offence, only... you lust for slaughter and bloodshed, you follow us for that very reason, yet in your future you wish for a, presumably, peaceful existence. It strikes me as being odd."
"Guess your right" he nodded in agreement "But I'm an odd person. That which hates often loved first as they... don't say, but should. Besides which, there's no guarantee we'll defeat Galbatorix, there's no guarantee it will be in this life time, and there no guarantee I will survive the feat, so I may not have to live as a wanderer, hiding until the end of time, I might be dead by then."
Nasuada's face had turned grave once more as he spoke "True enough... you should know one other person will be travelling with you."
"Oh great, who?" he asked, annoyance presiding in his tone now.
"Orik, King Hrothgar insisted that in the interest of fairness there should be a dwarf representative present at your training, since it affects their race as well."
Eragon groaned "Great, you know with just two of us we could have gotten there in a few days on Saphira. Ah well" he brightened up quickly "It'll be nice to have some non elven conversation around. The more I hear about the 'fair folk' the more I find myself thinking what a load of pricks."
"I would advise you not to tell them that."
"Your father said much the same, didn't listen then, not going to now. Do you really intend to attack the empire?" he asked, suddenly serious "You said yourself, the Varden are weak. Wouldn't it be better to wait and..."
"If we wait" she said sternly "Galbatorix will just get stronger. This is the first time since Morzan was slain that we have even the slightest opportunity of catching him unprepared. He had no reason to suspect we could have defeated the Urgals, and we only did that thanks to you, so he won't have readied his empire for invasion."
"And what will you do" he said, moving to stand in front of her desk and placing both his hands atop it "when Galbatorix and Shruikan ride out to obliterate you?"
Nasuada shook her head "He won't. From what we know of him, he won't fight until Uru'baen itself is threatened. It doesn't matter to Galbatorix if we destroy half the empire, so long as we come to him, not the other way around. Why should he bother anyway? If we do manage to reach him our troops will be battered and depleted making it all the easier for him to destroy us."
Eragon moved closer to look her dead in the eye, an inch separated their noses "You still haven't answered me."
Nasuada suppressed a shiver as gazed into his eyes "I can't yet. This will be a long campaign. By its end you might be powerful enough to defeat Galbatorix, or the elves may have joined us, and their spell casters are the strongest in Alagaesia. No matter what happens we cannot afford to delay. Now is the time to gamble and challenge Galbatorix or submit and pass away."
Eragon sighed. He wouldn't be able to convince her to change her mind, and he barely wanted to, so instead he gently stroked her cheek, his pale skin contrasting greatly with her black "And what of your own safety. You have my loyalty, not the Varden, so my concern is whether or not you will be safe. I have no desire to bury the daughter so soon after the father."
This time not even Nasuada's iron will could suppress the shiver that ran up her spine "I am well defended, as you saw" she gestured to the door, where beyond it warriors stood at the ready "I will admit..." she looked down at the table and away from his eyes "one reason for going to Surda is that Orrin know me of old and will offer his protection. I cannot tarry here with you and Arya gone and the Council of Elders still with power. They won't accept me as leader until I prove beyond doubt that the Varden are under my control, not theirs."
Eragon pulled back, letting his fingers trail away from her smooth skin "Fair enough" he said smiling, a strange smile that spoke of both endearment and pride "You've thought this through well. I knew I made a good choice, cats are so overrated."
She smiled with him at this, half touched by his sort of concern for her and half annoyed, as if she was being treated like a child. She paused taking a moment to draw on some inner strength, squaring her shoulders and lifting her chin, making her cold and aloof as a leader must be.
"Go now, Eragon. Ready your horse, gather your supplies, and be at the north gate by dawn."
"Aye, aye, captain."
See you again, probably, maybe, hopefully, you know so long as I don't die during the week, or the world ends in a giant fireball, or I forget to upload, all somewhat likely, notice I said somewhat not specifying how likely it is nor saying that it is likely just that it is somewhat.
I'm gonna shut up now, see you next week.
