Just inset something humours and topical here, cause I can't think of anything right now.


Chapter 15: What's Poppin' (my ears).

He stared out over the forest, a thousand drops of dew sparkling like diamonds upon the needles of Ellesmera's trees in the early morning light.

'Sleep well' Saphira asked as she yawned and stretched.

"No."

Saphira's eyes narrowed worriedly. He had responded verbally, that meant he was in a bad mood.

'Eragon?'

'Hmm? What?'

She blinked. Had it just been her imagination?

'Nothing… What are you doing up so early?' she moved to stand next to him, watching the forest together.

'It's not that early' Eragon reasoned, but seeing her unconvinced stare he admitted 'I haven't been sleeping well.'

'I've noticed.'

'I'll be fine Saphira, I'm stronger than you think.'

'That doesn't mean I don't worry.'

Eragon chuckled "I suppose not" he spoke out loud for no particular reason. He just spoke for the sake of speaking.

Saphira snorted at him, then leapt out into the open air, her wings snapping wide open, and she roared, shaking dew from the needles and the trees themselves to their roots. Eragon felt her roar in the pit of his stomach, rumbling there like the cries of battle or a war horn sounding close by. He smiled as she looped amidst the trees, happy that she was happy as she performed more extravagant feats of aerial acrobatics for his enjoyment.

He headed to the screen, something had woken him up during the night though he had felt no need to investigate it then and instead started staring out over the trees, revelling in the loneliness of the night, but now he was more awake and so did investigate.

Two trays, filled mostly with fruits, had been placed by the lintel during the night, along with a bundle of brightly coloured clothes and a small note attached to it, it was likely whoever had placed them had woken him. Not that Eragon was complaining.

Eragon picked up the note and flicked his eyes over the flowing script.

'Do they have to write like that?' he wondered, struggling to read the elegant, curling characters and flowing lines of text 'Seriously. I mean I know it looks pretty and everything, but it's fucking hard to read this shit.'

'Something wrong' Saphira asked returning with a crunch of bark from her early morning fly and finding Eragon staring intently at a piece of paper.

'A message. 'Greetings Saphira Bjartskular and Eragon Shadeslayer' now we hit my first issue. Why, the serious fuck, am I second in line? I mean I was born first, I killed first, hell I'll probably die first. So why is my name second?'

'Don't even joke about that' Saphira growled 'You don't get to die until after I die.'

'Right back at you, love.'

'Exactly.'

Eragon grinned. So they'd live on forever then 'But we still have the issue of me being second.'

'Ever heard of save the best till last' Saphira said. He should have, after all she only knew about such a saying because he had told her, otherwise Saphira likely would've have cared less about it. Still she was glad she knew of it, her rider did take offence at the strangest of things.

'…' Eragon blinked 'Good point. Okay now that we've dealt with that let's move on to the next issue.'

'How wonderful.'

Ignoring her snarky comment Eragon continued ''I, Bellaen of House Miolandra, do humble myself and apologise to you, Saphira, for this unsatisfactory meal' now first of all he shouldn't have to 'humble himself' to apologise to my dragon' she hummed in response. It was so sweet when he got all possessive, and rather cute too 'and second of all, if you know it's going to be unsatisfactory then don't fucking provide it. That's like offering something with a nut allergy nuts and saying 'Sorry but we don't have anything else', it's just fucking stupid.'

Saphira rolled her eyes getting comfy on her pillow, this could take a while 'Okay, now, not to hurry along your biting critique, but what comes next?

'Right. Err, 'Elves do not hunt, and no meat is to be had in Ellesmera, nor any of our cities' don't even get me started on this no meat business.'

'I won't, let's move on.'

''If you wish, you can do as the dragons of old were wont' who the hell uses wont anymore.'

'Haven't you used it before?'

'Have I?'

'Shouldn't you know?'

'Should I?'

'Just…' she shook her head 'Continue.'

So he did '', and catch what you may in Du Weldenvarden. We only ask that you leave your kills in the forest so that our air and our water remain untainted with blood' this world is built upon corpses, nothing you eat or drink didn't come from death, whether it water from a mountain stream or a strawberry fresh from the plant. Isn't pretending all of the death isn't there rather stupid. It is there, it does happen, accept it and move the fuck on!'

'Can we move on from your typical 'The world is one massive death trap' speech? The next part reads?'

''Eragon, these clothes are for you. They were woven by Niduen of Islanzadi's house and are her gift to you. May good fortune rule over you, blah, blah blah blah blah, blah blah, Bellaen du Hljodhr' once again I'm left to the end, you may say the best till last, I say they're treating me like a fucking footnote!'

'Isn't that all we all are, footnotes in the annals of history?' Saphira asked philosophically.

'I sure as hell ain't, I'm going to shit all over histories shoe' he responded… not so philosophically.

'Lovely.'

'Also at the end, 'and are her gift to you', do they mean this Niduen birds gift or Islanzadi's, it's left very unclear.'

'My money…'

'Not that you have any.'

'…is on 'this Niduen bird'' Saphira ignored him and continued 'I got the distinct impression that Islanzadi didn't like you too much. For some reason I think she thought you were a bit of an arrogant prick. Couldn't tell you why.'

'Did you just subtly insult me?'

'You noticed?'

Eragon shrugged 'Nice work anyway.'

'Thank you.'

'Where were we?'

'Well we've moved on from the note and are now considering breakfast, I likely won't need to eat after the feast last night, but…' she snapped up a few seed cakes 'Now that I have done my best to not appear rude, you do your best to appear rude.'

'Got it.'

And so Eragon ignored breakfast and instead set about looking at the clothes that he had been gifted.

Two tunics in russet and thimbleberry green, creamy leggings, and socks so soft they felt like liquid in his fingers. Eragon promptly tossed them in amongst his others things and grabbed some of the rougher dwarven clothing, he didn't like the bright colours, browns and travel worn beige were more favoured, blacks and blues and reds even more so, but he didn't like bright stuff. Just another oddity in the case of the dragon rider shade, and he was odd enough as it was.

He was strapping Zar'roc and Durza's cruel blade to his waist, today deciding that Durza sword would be on his left, his primary sword, and Zar'roc on his right, his secondary blade, when someone knocked on the screen of his room.

"Come in Orik."

Orik entered cautiously "How in Guntera's name did you know it was me?" he wondered "There some kind of spell or…"

"I'm very skilled" Eragon said elusively, watching as the dwarf tested the floor with his feet before lancing around wincing at the wide open space and the vast drop visible.

"Give me a cave any day over a birds nest like this. How fared your night brother, and you too Saphira?"

Eragon shrugged.

'I slept well. And you?' Saphira made him intone for her.

"I slept like a rock" Orik chuckled at his own jest. He glanced at the full and mostly full trays by the door "Not hungry?" Eragon shook his head mutely. Orik nodded in acceptance "Then I'll ask you to accompany me" he fixed Eragon with a stare "Arya, the queen, and a whole host of other elves await you at the base of the tree. Something is going on Eragon, something they haven't told us about. I'm not sure what they want, but whatever it is…" Oirk shook his head, unsure of what he should, or rather what he had been about, to say "Islanzadi is tense like a cornered wolf and the others aren't much better. This is not some simple matter Eragon. I figured I'd warn you beforehand."

"Don't worry about little old me" Eragon flexed his fingers around the bone handle of Durza's sword, the cool bone felt good against his skin "Wolves have no chance against a dragon, nor against…" he fixed Orik with a bloodthirsty crimson stare "little old me" how he managed to make that rather innocent term sound so horrific was beyond the dwarf.

"Aye, just…" he wondered how to put it. Not so blunt as to suggest he thought Eragon was overly violent, yet not so subtle Eragon didn't give a flying fuck about the warning "It's not much to my taste, but I do think this forest would look less pretty painted red."

"Everything's prettier painted red" Saphira growled "Or blue, blues a good colour, I like blue."

"That it is" Orik agreed, content Eragon had at least noticed the warming, whether or not he did give a flying fuck was unknown.

"Sapphires are my favourite gemstones" Eragon mumbled "If you ever want to please me Orik make me a nice dagger of silver and sapphires, a curved dagger if you will, and with some type of inscription. Actually I already know the inscription I want 'Beware the rock changes and moves to crush you all.'"

Orik grinned "Sapphire dagger, inscription, got it."

"Good dwarf" he patted the smaller man on his head.

Orik grumbled at that but continued jesting with Eragon as they walked down the stairs as Saphira glided down. Eragon would've gone with her, it was so much easier not having to walk, but he'd feel bad leaving Orik to the tedious misery of stairs, that were practically small cliffs to the also small man, alone so instead joined him. It was hilarious watching Orik carefully make his way down the far too steep for dwarves' steps and that may have had something to do with it but he'd firmly deny any accusations for, oh, at least half a second.

At the base of the tree they found Islanzadi, today dressed in a mantle of ruffled swan feathers that were like snow heaped upon a cardinal's breast, she did have rather nice breasts Eragon noted, Arya, who, it should be noted, also had very nice breasts, and a very nice arse, and nice legs, and lips, and a nice neck, and a rather nice face as well, and the host of other elves Orik mentioned.

"Shadeslayer" she greeted him coolly.

"Queen Islanzadi" he returned the coolness, with a cocky grin thrown on top.

"Orik" she greeted the dwarf to.

Orik gave her a small bow in response.

"Follow me."

Without waiting she turned and swept away, expecting all to follow. And they did, though Eragon had to be coaxed along by Saphira, who coaxed him by nudging him with her nose till he started walking.

She took a wending course through the woods, wending meaning slow and indirect as Saphira explained to Eragon, despite the fact that he had taught her pretty much all she knew about language, when she commented on the wending course Islanzadi was taking them on and Eragon asked what the hell wending meant.

'Why couldn't you just say slow and or indirect then rather than using some bullshit word no one uses.'

Saphira sighed 'Is there a reason you're swearing every five seconds. If Brom were here he'd slap you round the head and tell you to 'mind your manners, boy'.'

'Manners? What the fuck are they?'

She sighed.

'Saphira swear words are not bad, they simply are' he justified 'If we stopped associating such stigma to the words then people wouldn't want to say them as much, but because they are viewed as 'forbidden' or 'taboo' people use them because people love breaking the rules. Rebellion is in our nature, oddly enough so is obeying the rules like idiotic sheep.'

'That all may be true, but you, Eragon, could swear a little less and be no worse off.'

'But I like swearing, and fuck any tosser who thinks differently.'

Saphira shook her head, then something occurred to her 'You know Eragon, the term 'tosser' refers to someone who masturbates.'

'It does?'

'Yes, the insult 'tosser' is another version of the insult 'wanker', perhaps the progenitor, or perhaps it came after' Brom had taught her that, perhaps her one piece of 'not from Eragon' language knowledge.

'Haha 'came after' good one' Saphira blinked, she hadn't noticed that innuendo 'But…' Eragon continued 'I was just referring to a general arsehole.'

'And the insult 'arsehole'?'

'Good point' Eragon scratched his chin 'So does that mean all our insults come from sexual slang?'

'Probably, you humans do seem rather obsessed with fucking each other like wild rabbits.'

'Well of course we are' he said stretching his arms out 'We're only slightly above rabbits in terms of intelligence.'

'Only slightly?'

'Very, very slightly.'

Saphira shook her head 'You don't hold a high opinion of the human race, do you?'

'Expect the worst and you can only be pleasantly surprised.'

'That's one way of looking at it.'

'Yeah…' there was a small pause 'Saphira, I'm getting damn sick of this wending route.'

'I know little one.'

Eragon sighed, then frowned as something occurred to him 'The word bastard doesn't come from sexual slang does it?'

'Well technically it refers to someone born outside of wedlock, between a man and a woman who aren't married, so it sort of does in a roundabout way, but…' that particular topic kept them going until the far edge of Ellesmera where the buildings were few and the paths faint. Islanzadi stopped at the base of a wooded knoll and turned to face her entourage.

"Before we go any further the three of you" she spoke to Eragon, Orik and Saphira "must swear in the ancient language that you will never speak to outsiders of what you are about to see without permission from me, my daughter, or whoever may succeed us to the throne."

Orik's face turned incredulous "Why should I gag myself?"

'Why indeed?' asked a rather irked Saphira 'Do you not trust us?' they had put their lives and futures into the elves hands. For that trust not to be returned was insulting.

"It is not a matter of trust, but of safety. We must protect this knowledge at all costs, it is our greatest advantage over Galbatorix, and if you are bound by the ancient language you will never willingly reveal our secret. You came to supervise Eragon's training, Orik-vodhr. Unless you give me your word now, you may as well return to Farthen Dur."

Orik gave in and was instructed in what to say and what it meant, meanwhile Saphira's lip twitched and only Arya, who was paying close attention to the Rider and his Dragon, noticed.

'So are we on the same page?' Eragon asked her, keeping his gaze forward.

Saphira would've shaken her head in shock if it wouldn't have broken the calm front she was putting up 'When it seems like there is no room to manoeuvre…'

'…there's always enough room to swing a dragon' Eragon finished for her.

She chuckled internally 'You are far smarter than I thought, my dear rider, but is defying the Queen really in our best interests, perhaps we should simply do as she said.'

'Trust goes both ways, they obviously don't trust us to not go over to Galbatorix so we can't trust them to be our allies.'

'Trust is built though. If we give them this, as a gesture of trust…'

'I don't beg Saphira, and I never will' '…not again' but he kept that part to himself.

'Very well' she agreed after a moments consideration 'We are on the same page.'

'Good.'

With Orik finished Islanzadi looked expectantly to Eragon and Saphira.

"Well Saphira…" he glanced at her "time to leave I guess. It's been fun" he turned and started walking away. Saphira turned with him.

"What are you doing, Rider?" the queen demanded, her stern face barely hiding her confusion. This was not what she had planned, this was not what she expected, this was… defiance, a bitter pill, and not one she oft had to swallow, at least not so openly.

Eragon paused and turned only his head to stare at the queen "You ask for an oath of silence. I say, no. Therefore there is little reason to stay here. Saphira and myself will return to the Varden and continue to aid their efforts. I thank you for your hospitality" he added the last bit at Saphira's insistence. Sometimes the best way of insulting someone was with politeness, and this was one of those times.

'Eragon' Arya's touch against his mind and her voice in his head stopped him. The other elves glanced at her, noticing the connection, but made no comment 'Just make the promise, please.'

"No."

'Eragon…' she never got a chance to say anything more as Eragon cut over her.

"After all, why should I give you anything, to receive information I already know" he let it sink in for just a single moment, before he stepped past the group on swift footsteps. He left the trees walking out into a field of red clover and walked right to the edge of the cliff, extending in a league in either direction and dropping at least a thousand foot to a sea of trees below that extended all the way to the horizon.

"How long do you intend to wait down there" he called down.

The elves were soon behind him, staying ten feet away, their hands grasping their swords but not drawing them, at the back Saphira and Orik followed, Orik looking worried, Saphira ready to strike at any elf who dared to attack her rider. Eragon turned to face them and grinned, staring Islanzadi dead in the face.

Thud.

The very air shivered from the concussion.

Thud.

It was enough to make his teeth chatter.

Thud.

He turned to stare at the wide open expanse laid out before him, waiting.

Thud.

A wind swept over them, bending the clovers and blowing hair around wildly.

Thud.

And up rose a great golden dragon, a rider on its back.

"Yo, what's poppin' cripple?"

In life Glaedr was all the more glorious. In his dream things were strange and confusing, but here in the real world he looked like a burning run rising in the sky. One could literally feel his massiveness and power pressing down from on high.

But, in life, the scars life left could be seen. Scars that, though they did not harm the mind, were present on the body, were no visible. Glaedr's left foreleg had been severed leaving a helpless white stump in place of what had once been a mighty limb.

The shining dawn lit up his golden scales, bedazzling all who beheld them, casting rays of golden light upon the assembled.

With what Brom had taught him of dragons aging and what he had seen of Saphira's growth after the initial spurt Eragon assumed this dragon to be several hundred years old from his immense size.

And there, upon his back, clad in stark white robes, was his rider.

Though he tried not to show it, though he tried to deny it, Eragon's heart beat heavy in his chest, his eyes ached with tears of relief, his shoulders sagged as his body relaxed and he could feel Saphira joy too, in awe of what they were seeing, even though they had seen it before, in real life it was all the more striking.

They were not alone.

The rider had silver hair, his immeasurable age visible only in the expression of great compassion and deep sadness on his face, an expression that turned to a smile as he surveyed Eragon and Saphira.

Glaedr landed like an earthquake, his massive wings churned up dry twigs and leaves, one whipped across his chin but Eragon didn't care. The dragon settled on the earth, but before he was properly down his rider had already descended down his intact right leg, then approached Eragon hands clasped before him.

"Oromis, Osthato Chetowa, the Mourning Sage…" Eragon let out a long slow breath" What's up?" he said cheerfully "How've you been? Life going well for you right now?" Eragon gave him a cheeky grin, flashing his sharp canines.

Oromi's smile didn't waver, if anything it grew wider "And greetings to you as well, Eragon Shadeslayer" he said stood before the boy.

"Glaedr" Eragon inclined his head to the dragon, a gesture that was ever so close to a bow, but not quite.

Glaedr nodded in turn, his deep rumbling voice filled Eragon's mind 'A pleasure to see you, Eragon, alive and well in both body and mind.'

Eragon nearly frowned. These two had seen him in one of his worst moments, at a time when he was a coward, a child begging to be saved, and they had shown him the path he needed to see and even guided him along the first few steps. And yet Eragon didn't really care that that had seen that, didn't care that they had seen him weak and pathetic. For the life of him he didn't know why.

"You knew" Islanzadi whispered, the hurt, betrayed, expression on her face transforming into a storm of rage "You knew of Eragon's existence and yet you did not tell me? Why have you betrayed me, Shur'tugal?!"

Oromis turned his gaze to the queen, surveying her fury with naught but calmness "I kept my peace because it was uncertain if Eragon or Arya would live long enough to come here. I had no wish to give you a fragile hope that might have been torn away at any moment."

Islanzadi spun, her mantle of white feathers billowing like faux wings, turning her furious gaze from the rider and stormed a few steps away "You had no right to withhold such information from me! I could have sent warrior to protect Arya, Eragon and Saphira in Farthen Dur and to escort them safely here" she turned to face him again, waiting for his reasons, her expression showing what would occur should she find them insufficient.

Oromis only smiled, a sad gentle smile "I hid nothing from you Islanzadi, but what you had already chosen not to see. If you had scryed the land, as if your duty, you would have discerned the source of the chaos that has swept Alagaesia and learned the truth of Arya and Eragon. That you might forget the Varden and the dwarves in your grief is understandable…"

'Yes because they're only an entire empire and humanities last hope' Eragon mumbled.

'Are we really going to do this here?'

"…but Brom?" Vinr Alfakyn? The last of the Elf Friends? You have been blinked to the world, Islanzadi, and lax upon your throne. I could not risk driving your further away by subjecting you to another loss" despite his harsh words his tone remained kind, was never raised and never angry, it sounded understanding, forgiving even.

And Islanzadi's anger drained away, leaving her pale faced with her shoulders slumped in disgrace "I am diminished" she whispered, her voice choked.

Glaedr, who had spent all of this time ignoring the words of his Rider and the Elven Monarch instead surveying Eragon, now moved his gave to Saphira. He sniffed along her cheek and the line of her wing before moving back. As he did so Saphira's leg twitched while the rest of her stayed perfectly still, frozen in place.

'You smell of humans' he said his voice echoing down their link 'And all you know of your own race is what your instincts have taught you. But you have the heart of a true dragon.'

"Truly, this is beyond anything I dared hope of expect. You are a pleasant surprise in these dark times Rider" Orik said to Oromis as the dragons silent exchange ended.

Eragon watched Orik carefully, it seemed like genuine pleasure at the appearance of another Rider, but there was something hidden behind his words, something more to them.

"If it is not too presumptuous, I would ask a boon on behalf of my king and my clan, as was the custom between our people."

Oromis nodded "And I will grant it, if it is within my power."

"Then tell me, why have you remained hidden for all these years? You were sorely needed, Argetlam."

And Eragon saw it.

"Ah, many sorrows exist in this world, and one of the greatest it being unable to help those in pain. I could not risk leaving this sanctuary, for if I had died before one of Galbatorix's eggs had hatched, then there would have been no one to pass on our secrets to the new Rider, and it would have been even harder to defeat Galbatorix."

Orik let anger show upon his face "That was your reason?" he spat "Those are the words of a coward! The eggs might have never hatched."

Everyone went deathly silent, but a low growl from Glaedr made Orik shudder, but not waver.

There was a shard of truth in his statement, a shard, or rather a great massive blade, that stabbed into Oromis, though his composure didn't change, his smile only grew more sombre.

"If you were not my guest here, I would strike you down myself for that insult" Islanzadi told the dwarf, in tones that expressed how much she wished to do just that.

Eragon placed his arm on Orik's shoulder "I return that threat Islanzadi" he told her, pausing only long enough to see enraged outrage appear on her visage before turning his gaze to Orik "But there is truth in his question and in his statement, no?"

"Indeed" Oromis nodded solemnly "please be calm for I am not offended" he told Islanzadi, though Eragon got the feeling it was directed at Glaedr as well "it is an apt reaction" he turned his calm eyes to Orik "Understand, Orik, that Glaedr and I cannot fight. Glaedr has his disability" he gestured to the white stump that made Orik flinch to but look upon it "and I" he touched the side of his head "I am also maimed. The Forsworn broke something within me when I was their captive, and while I can still teach and learn, I can no longer control magic expect for the smallest spells."

"The power escapes me" he continued "no matter how much I struggle. I would be worse than useless in battle, I would be a liability, a weakness, one who could be easily captured and used against you. So I removed myself from Galbatorix's influence for the good of the many, even though I yearned openly oppose him."

"Forgive me" Orik looked away stricken.

"There is nothing to forgive" said Oromis, folding his arms and smiling his calm and kind smile.

"And what of you, Shadeslayer, will you consent to give us your word now?" Islanzadi asked turning her gaze to Eragon.

"No."

"Why? Do you not understand how important this is?" her anger returned, though compared to earlier it was greatly diminished.

"I do, I understand that well. I just don't like promises I can't break" Eragon didn't even look at her, instead cleaned out his ear with his pinky finger "Besides, I knew of Oromis long before I came here, and of Glaedr too. You did not reveal this secret to me, so why should I give you something in return for something I already know."

She scowled at him and would've continued, but Oromis stepped between her and Eragon.

"And now, I'm afraid, I must ask that give a concession too, Eragon" Oromis said, his gaze solely on the Shade Rider before him, the fact that the queen had yet to grant such a concession and wished to continue what argument of no consequence to him.

"Tch" Eragon scowled and rested his hands on the hilt of his blades, but made no move to draw either "Fine" he consented after a few scant moments before those gentle eyes.

Islanzadi waited, looking none too patient. She would not ask, she would wait, demanding answers solely with her gaze.

Oromis turned to face the gathered as Saphira shifted in behind Eragon guarding his back. Sensing the unease Arya separated herself from the crowd, she knew what was to come and had no desire to be a part of it, Orik too moved out of the way, though stuck close to Eragon ready to defend his foster brother should it come to that.

"Eragon is no simple dragon rider" Oromis said "He is far more than that, and though such a title defines him in many ways, that is not all he is."

Islanzadi's cheek twitched in annoyance "Pray speak sense, rider" she said, keeping her tone courteous if somewhat curt.

Oromis paused and considered her, then spoke four words "He is a Shade."

Dumbfounded silence met his statement. Shock, followed by denial, followed by uncertainty, followed by a single glance into his blood red crimson eyes, eyes that burned and glowed taunting them with all the confirmation they needed.

Swords were drawn, eyebrows met in vicious V's, faces were steeled, magic readied.

Eragon smirked darkly and drew his twin blades, whispering beneath his breath. He raised them high above his head and they ignited, Zar'roc was clad in pure sapphire blue flames, while Durza's wicked blade was consumed by screaming blood red fire.

But his magic did more than that, a great shockwave of burning hot air gushed over the gathered elves forcing them to crouch down or be knocked over, a male lord stood protecting Islanzadi from the harsh winds, and when they died down they were faced with the dark look of murder on the Shade Riders face, his two swords spinning dangerously, still aflame, by his sides.

"That is enough."

Though his voice was calm and quiet, Oromis's words struck them all like a hammer blow.

Eragon cursed, disappointed, and smacked his swords together angrily, the flames burning off, leaving naked steel in their place, as he did so.

"You are a Shade" muttered Islanzadi, her face marred with an expression of cold fury.

Eragon only grinned.

Her race became further enraged "And you dare enter our halls, dare pretend to…"

"Islanzadi!" this time Oromis did raise his voice, and it was truly terrible. Like from a dragons rumble the very earth seemed to shake and the sky seemed to darken, and Islanzadi shook.

She swiftly regained her posture, but did not continue.

"Despite what he is" one the elves said, not sheathing his blade "you still wish for him to have sanctuary here, Oromis-elda?"

"You do not know what he is though" Oromis said simply "so how can you dare to judge?" frowns marred their faces. "Eragon is no simple Shade, he is more akin to a sorcerer. He controls the spirits, though not with magic. He controls them through sheer force of will."

The elves stared, half at Oromis half at him, wondering over the words, wondering over what Eragon was, but most retained their caution trying to hide their curiosity.

"The spirits exist inside of him, they have already consumed some of him, and as such they are bound to his mind and can be controlled by his mind. How this is, I do not know. But I will endeavour to discover the cause and reasons, when I am not instructing him as a Rider."

To accentuate his point Saphira choose this moment to growl, reminding them just who Eragon was.

"But he can lose control" Oromis no longer looked at the elves, instead he looked off into the distance, his face sad "I know he has done so once before. Losing control over himself he became, Legion, if you wish to know what he was like, then the only two to have witnessed him and survived stand before us" he gestured to Arya and Saphira.

Arya hesitated a moment, but seeing the gazes that would not accept no she answered "It was a monster" she said emotionlessly, not daring to show the fear she had truly felt in that moment when Legion gazed at her "it cared only for killing, for bloodshed. It craved nothing but violence and knew nothing but violence. It was…" she gulped "...a demon."

Eragon made no comment, busy sheathing his blade seeing that they would see no blood this day.

"But Eragon fought and won the battle for his body" Oromis continued "as he had done once before, and now he stands before us as something never before seen."

He waved cheerfully.

"The battle for his body?" Islanzadi asked.

"Yeah, part of my story I never got round to telling you" Eragon sat himself down on Saphira's front leg "In Gilead the Shade Durza transformed me into a Shade. Twas of my own volition, rest assured. I asked for it" he paused, just for a second, before blinking and continuing "Murtagh and Saphira saved me before I could fall to the spirits, they forced Durza away, shot him through the head, and rescued Arya and we escaped. But I was still struggling to gain control over myself."

He let out a long sigh "When we landed… I asked him, Murtagh… I told him to kill me."

All eyes, save Oromis and Glaedr's, widened. Though whether the dragon and rider knew beforehand or simply weren't shocked by it was another matter altogether.

Orik had never heard of this and stared wide eyed, even Arya forgot to breathe for several moments she was so astounded by the revelation. She had been with them at the time, admittedly unconscious, but she had never known, never heard of such a happening.

"He didn't" Eragon continued swiftly "and as I slept I found myself in a strange land, made entirely from grey. A world bleached of all colour. Two forces fought in that bleakness. A darkness, unknown and terrifying, and brightly coloured demons, vile and evil, an evil visible to all. I made a choice, I fought alongside the darkness, alongside the unknown, and we won, colour was returned to the world in the demons blood. And I woke as myself, as the Dragon Rider Shade."

Islanzadi stared at him long and hard "And since then you have hidden it?"

"No… well, kind of, though badly. Ajihad knew about it, he figured it out from my eyes" he teased her with a grin, amused that a human would notice what an elf would not "Hrothgar too, and they have yet to try and kill me, as far as I'm aware" he added at the end, just in case.

Islanzadi's lips twitched into a sneer, disgusted by her fellow leaders trust like as not.

"After I killed Durza" Eragon continued "I absorbed his spirits into me" Orik was once again treated to a shock, Arya and Saphira had been there so they already knew "And I fought the battle once again, though this time they were more ordered and organized in their assault with those three who had been a part of a shade before guiding them. Oromis and Glaedr aided me in my struggle with sword and claw, and we slew them all and I regained my rightful place as ruler of my body. Though, Legion did not leave without some kind parting words."

"Kind parting words?"

Eragon smirked "You have won… this time. But one day we will claim what is ours… We are Legion… for we are many" he repeated words that had resounded through his head so many times he could barely count, but the words Oromis had spoken after them removed any fear he felt. They were not words that scared him, they were naught save words.

They all took a moment to process all he had told them, before Islanzadi turned to Oromis, asking no questions yet demanding answers.

"The battle he spoke of, to me it was a mental struggle, a battle between two minds, or rather inside of one mind. I did not see the battle Eragon speaks of, I did not draw Naegling" Eragon briefly wondered what Naegling was "I merely supported his own efforts, my mind and Glaedr's offering him aid" a brief tightening of his eyes showed… something, but Oromis said nothing.

"Given, what he is, how can we trust him?" an elf asked from behind Islanzadi.

"You can trust him… because if he wished any of you dead, you would know about it."

"You think he could match us" another elf said arrogantly, his sword held before him.

"A Shade would fall before all of you, true" Oromis granted "though not without causalities. But Eragon is a Shade created by another Shade. His power far surpasses the strength of any of those seen before, perhaps in the entire history of Alagaesia. As far as I can tell his strength is limited, to an extent. He is still as strong and as fast as the strongest of elves, perhaps even stronger than that, and his magic far surpasses his physical abilities. Combined, myself and Glaedr and all of you" he gestured to the elves at large "would struggle to defeat him in a battle of pure attrition. And if Legion awakens, then his full strength will become clear, and I know not if he even has limits."

'And do not forget me' Saphira spoke to them all rising up behind her rider 'Should you dare to harm him, I will rip you all limb from limb and feast upon your corpses.'

"And of course" Orik drew him axe and moved to stand by Eragon's leg "If you harm a member of Durgrimst Ingeitum, and my foster brother, you will face the full might of the dwarven race, and likely the Varden as well. With the aid of Eragon and Saphira, your kind would not survive our onslaught, simply against the dwarves you would still be hard pressed to survive."

Islanzadi's face was tight, but she said nothing.

Oromis raised his hand in a placating gesture "Despite that, I was referring more to his lack of subtlety. If Eragon was going to cause any of you harm, he would've done so. He is not the type to beat around the bush."

"Hey!" Eragon shouted, scandalized "I like beating around the bush as much as the next bloke. It's just the kind of main attraction is sticking it in so…"

'Eragon are you still talking about killing people?' Saphira had to ask.

'Yeah, of course, sticking your sword in is kind of the point… what did you think I was talking about?'

Saphira shook her head. Had he even noticed the innuendo at all? Sometimes her rider was so smart it shocked her, and sometimes he was so incredibly stupid it also shocked her.

"That's what Blagden meant" said Islanzadi, her voice barely a whisper on the wind "'Shrouded in shadows you are'. A Shade."

"Maud knows as well" Eragon commented cheerfully "And notice that neither have tried to kill me or warn you" for a moment he switched to the despised ancient language, despised because it was so fucking hard to use "I have no desire to harm you, nor your race. Do not give me one."

Silence filled the cliffs and several minutes passed, some elves remained ready for battle, more still had yet to sheathe their blades yet did not look like they would use them, other were thinking or staring openly at Eragon wondering just what he was.

Islanzadi broke the silence "Can you control him?"

"No" Oromis smiled, spying Eragon's scowl from the corner of his vision "And he does not need controlling. You've already heard that he means no harm to you, or your nation, in the language where one cannot lie. So long as you remained committed to ousting Galbatorix, Eragon will only be your ally, if you let him."

Islanzadi surveyed Oromis carefully, then turned her hawk like gaze to Eragon and surveyed him with equal care "Why?"

"Why what?" Eragon responded, already knowing what and knowing it would leave a foul taste in his mouth to but think of it.

"Why did you choose this?"

"That is personal."

"Does that matter to me?"

"Yes, because means, Queen Islanzadi, THAT I WILL NOT TELL YOU!" she took a step back from the force of his word, though her face remained impeccable "Keep your pretty little nose out of my personal affairs and it won't get bitten. Stick it in, and I'll bite it myself" his voice slowly quieted until, at the end, it was little more than a whisper, if that.

"I would also prefer you to keep this to yourself" Eragon said, leaning back into Saphira "and when I say 'prefer' I mean 'Keep this to yourselves'. The more people you tell the more people I have to add to my 'List of People I Need to Kill Part 2', and it's long enough as it is."

"He is right" Oromis inputted "This is his secret, and learning it would destroy what little hope people hold right now, and right now we need that hope."

Silence pervaded the cliffs again, Eragon yawning loudly was one of the few noises, besides Glaedr's snores, he had fallen asleep the petty squabbles of humans of little interest to him, that broke that fragile state.

Finally Oromis placed a hand on Eragon's shoulder "We have said all that needs to be. Islanzadi Drottningm, by your leave?"

She gazed at them both, for once an unconcealed expression, this one of weary annoyance, on her face "Go and be done with you, the both of you" she left them entering the woods, slowly followed by her lords and ladies.

"Come Eragon, Saphira We have much to talk about" Oromis told them, climbing nimbly up Glaedr's leg and into the saddle on his back.

Orik gave him a brief nod "That could've better. Still, bring honour to your clan, brother."

"I intend to" Eragon patted him on the head, earning him a scowl from the dwarf.

Eragon mounted Saphira, settling himself down, then turned to gaze at the final person remaining on the cliffs.

Arya met his gaze, and he flashed her a cheery grin. She half frowned, appearing troubled, but then he was gone, blue sky replaced emerald orbs.


Guntera's salty nut sack I'm tired, I'm going to go to bed, by the way when I wake up I want there to be over two hundred reviews for this fic, so review people.

Thanks to anyone who bothers to read this fic and more thanks to anyone who reviews.

Toodles.