Hello again. I am not CP, I only own Tania and Ophelia (I only just found out that I accidentally named her after a character from Shakespeare's Hamlet O.o)
After two nights, Brom finally passed into the void. Eragon almost completely broke down. They buried Brom atop the cliff. As Eragon laid the final stone on the grave, Tania briefly felt a presence, unfamiliar but filled with grief. It disappeared a moment later, and she wondered if she had imagined it.
As Eragon stepped back, Saphira came forward, lowering her snout to Brom's grave. As soon as the blue dragon's scales touched the stone, there was a flash of light. When it receded, the limestone had turned completely into diamond, with streaks of gold—which, when Tania looked carefully at the horizon, she knew was probably the doings of her own dragon. A confirmation from Ophelia proved her point. Eragon gave her a grateful look, and she nodded.
They stayed in the cave for the last time that night.
The next morning, Tania helped Murtagh saddle the horses while Eragon grieved. When Eragon finally managed to eat something and get out to the horses, he automatically went to Cadoc. Tania tilted her head, then shrugged and mounted Snowfire.
The group set out on an easy lope, Saphira and a camouflaged Ophelia flying above them. That night, they set up camp, exchanging brief conversation during dinner, but otherwise staying silent. Tania mostly made conversation with Ophelia, while Eragon and Murtagh were fine to leave her be. They rolled into their sleeping arrangements just a little more familiar with each other.
The days repeated like this, stretching into weeks, until they were close to Gil'ead. Tania was sitting next to Saphira's nose, stroking the blue dragoness's scales while Eragon and Murtagh bickered—almost like brothers, she thought briefly—as to who would enter Gil'ead and find the person they were looking for. Tania didn't have much idea as to what in the world they were talking about. She had been lost in her own world since Brom had passed. Tania figured it may be from Ophelia's pent-up grief, which she was unable to release either by sound or by the color of her scales. Either would have probably helped Tania's lack of attention, but it really couldn't be helped. And Tania didn't blame Ophelia for it.
Eragon and Murtagh were still arguing as to who would go in when the wind changed. The horses—Snowfire especially—snorted and started pawing the ground. The breeze carried a very unwelcome scent to Tania's nostrils, and she could see Saphira had caught the scent as well. It was like rancid meat, mixed with blood and sweat. Narrowing her eyes, Tania drew her bow and scanned the surrounding forest.
Then the Urgals attacked.
The creatures roared into the clearing, three setting their sights immediately on Tania. She leapt up and dashed for a nearby pine. Tania scrambled up it like a squirrel, then started firing down at the Urgals below her. Saphira set to work crushing the creatures with her tail and talons, occasionally snapping at them with her dagger-like teeth. As Tania focused on making sure Murtagh wasn't overwhelmed on the left-hand side of the clearing, she didn't notice Eragon being overpowered by a group of the fiends. However, Tania did notice when Saphira suddenly took to the air, grabbing Murtagh in one talon.
Tania yelled and made to go after Eragon, but Saphira caught her—gently—by the shirt before she could, reaching around and depositing the girl into the saddle. Tania leaned against Saphira's neck, wondering if Eragon would be just one more companion she would lose.
Tania strapped her legs in after a forceful pushing from Ophelia. Leaning down as far as she could—which was quite a bit—she pulled Murtagh into the saddle behind her, strapping his legs in too. Saphira gave them a worried glance. Sleep, Tania. It was a voice, male and gentle and deep. And unfamiliar. Saphira will land soon, and you can figure out a plan to rescue Eragon then.
Wrapping her cloak a little more securely around her, Tania obliged, leaning against Saphira's gently moving neck. It wasn't long before she fell into a dreamless sleep.
When Tania finally awoke, she was still on Saphira's back, but her legs were no longer strapped in. She sat up, stretching over backwards and stretching her arms out like wings.
"Glad to see you awake," said a voice. Tania raised an eyebrow at the speaker. Murtagh was sitting comfortably on a log in front of a small fire. Roving her gaze over the temporary campsite, she saw the horses picketed near the trees. "i went back for the horses while you were out," Murtagh said unnecessarily.
"I see," was all Tania could sum up. Words seemed awfully useless now.
Murtagh studied her, seeming to know what she felt. Then, "If we're going to rescue Eragon, I need to be able to talk to Saphira." He gestured to the dragoness in question. "She refuses to even acknowledge me."
Tania switched a penetrating gaze to the blue dragon. Is this true?
Saphira shifted uncomfortably. I do not fully trust him.
You do not have to fully trust him to rescue Eragon.
He could be a traitor for all we know!
Then we make a plan where we're both on his back. We'd need to to get to Gil'ead anyway.
Saphira grumbled, pulling he wings tightly against her body without acknowledging it. Fine. Ophelia will want a say in this.
She's sitting on your right behind that ash tree.
Saphira blinked in surprise. Beside them, a narrow head shifted just a shade lighter than the forest around it, nodding at them before disappearing again. Ophelia spoke then. I think it would be a good idea to trust Murtagh at least a little in this. It's what Brom would say, no?
Saphira snorted. Brom would never have let Eragon get captured in the first place!
So? You never know, even Eragon's father might lose track of his son.
Saphira started in surprise. Who told you about that?
Brom did.
Ah. That makes sense. Then there was a sigh. Alright, I will trust him. But if he shows one hair of treason, growled Saphira, I will snap him up like a turkey.
Sounds fair, said Tania. Turning to Murtagh, she said, "She says she'll talk to you, but that if you show any actions that prove you work for Galbatorix, she'll snap you up like a turkey."
The man blinked. Then he shrugged. "I've heard considerably worse," he said.
Tania gave a grim, determined smile. "Let's get started then, shall we?"
Hnh. This was hard to write. I have SO MANY ideas about future chapters, but since I'm stuck here in Eragon, I can't really start writing the funniest conversation ever to be heard in Doru Araeba since the Fall.
At least I have a pretty notebook and a pen (the pen really can't be considered 'pretty', I'm afraid)
Please Review!
Falcon