The War Begins
T'was the first day of the Blood oath celebration. Held every hundred years, to remember the fateful day when Dragons and Elves signed the peace treaty, and the riders began. It was luck..or fate, that Eragon, Saphira, Zeus and I were here for it.
Like any Elven celebrations, the very core of magic could be felt throughout the forest, and for those who were not elves or dragons, it was hard to stay of sound mind during them. Luckily, Eragon and I knew the spell that would keep us sane.
Still, it was a 3 day long celebration, and to expect we would not be affected was futile.
The first day and night went by in a blur of song, poem, dance and merriment. I danced with many female elves, sang with them, and listened to every poem and song that was recited. By the beginning of the second day, Oromis had corners us and made us take a break, for as the magic was beginning to seep its way past our protective spells. Once we were ready, we returned. By then it was time for Arya to present her poem.
As she recited it, I could not help but smile and admire her in ways only Eragon had before. I had Meghan of course, which was the only thing that kept me from professing my love for Arya during those short minutes.. After she was done, my thoughts returned to normal. I noticed the sky was darkening.
It is almost time
Eragon went first, and his poem was great. I really liked it. Next came Saphira's rock formation. Zeus left in the middle of it to go get his art. I was next. I stood up and went off to the side for a moment, I grabbed a blank slate which I had begged from Oromis earlier that day, and handed it to Eragon.
"When it is the right moment, make a farth" Was all I told him. I then proceeded to a small clearing, just as Zeus's thoughts entered my mind and he growled "Don't even think about it David, it is too dangerous" My mind was made up however as I murmured "It is too late now, they expect something from me, and this is all I can give" I got no response, except the feeling of him abandoning his art to fly back here with all speed.. I had better hurry up
In the ancient language I cried "Now it is my turn to present some famous work of art from my mind to you all, as a Dragon Rider should. Yet there is no way I can top Eragon with words" I began to slowly rise in the air, storm clouds brewing high in the sky. I continued "For I am no son of Apollo, who are known for their prowess with in creating poems and songs." I rose higher, sweat beginning to dribble down my face at the effort of doing it without magic, using only my powers as Son of Zeus, which was difficult at the best of times to do in this world. "For I am no son of Aphrodite with charmspeak, who always has a way with words." I rose higher, grunting with the effort "For I am the son of Zeus, who's power resides in fighting skills, leading skills, and the ability to blow minds." I rose to as high as I could and said "For you see, elves of the Du Weldenvarden, I present you no poem or art, other than the marvels I can produce myself with out magic. You see, I AM THE ART!" I spread my arms wide as thunder boomed and lighting arms down from the sky, hitting both my out stretched hands. I then screamed a cry when my back seemed to burst on fire, the rest of my body soon following. I fell from the sky, a Dragon roar was the last thing I heard.
I came too before we landed. With a shaky breath, I dismounted Zeus, who turned and roared at me. I stood my ground as Eragon came over handing me the farth. I gave Zeus a small glare, before I looked at what Eragon has made for me. It was perfect, created just as the two bolts hit me. I gave him a nod in thanks, then strode over to the queen, who's mouth was still hung open in awe. I handed her the farth, then returned to my seat, still shaken.
The last day was the best of all, for it included a dance of dragons. Elves who manipulated the fabrics of magic to create an embodiment of a dragon. I enjoyed it, but froze when it came to look at Eragon and me. It spoke in our minds "Take this gift, so you may do what is needed of you." it touched Eragon's brow, who colasped with a blinding white light, it then said faintly "Take this gift, for you are our only hope" it touched my brow, and the blinding light was the last thing I saw.
I awoke back in my hut in the trees, I was alone, and it appeared to still be dark out, I stood, feeling a weird power in my limbs, which didn't quite make sense. I stretched and walked over to the mirror, I then gasped in horror. What happened to me? "Zeus!" I cried out with my mind, his mind touched mine instantly "How do you feel?" He asked, almost timidly, if a dragon COULD be timid. "I look like an elf, how did that happen, did you, Saphira and Glaedr work some dragony voodoo magic on me or something" I swear I could hear the snort escape his nose, even if he was still at the celebration "Voodoo magic? No, The sprit of my race gave you and Eragon a blessing so that you may defeat Galbatorix. You have been healed as far as I could tell.. And now bare the resemblance of an elf. Rest now David.. I will keep watch and remember the rest of the celebration for you." Healed? I quickly twisted around and lifted up my tunic, revealing an unblemished back.. My scar was gone... I could fight again! The only thing I knew how to do, and I could do it again. However I knew Zeus spoke sense and curled up on my bed, falling back to sleep, or the waking dreams that seemed to equal sleep.
The next morning and woke and continued as I did before the ceremony, getting ready for my spar with Celbic, the elf I had been sparing with since we arrived in Ellesmera months ago. He was a kind elf, but I could always sense disappointment from him in our sparring. Today though, I planned to give him all I had, without fear of pain. We started at opposite ends of the ground, facing each other. I gently slide Kveykva from its sheath and stood, waiting patiently, sizing up Celbic for the hundredth time. He then bound towards me, but seemed to be movie at a slower, human pace. Was he playing with me? He then stabbed at my gut, but I flicked my wrist, noticing how much lighter kveykva seemed to be, and deflected his blow. He seemed surprised, which surprised me as he was obviously playing with me. I then kicked him back, and was now really surprised when he flew ten feet. "I gained the strength and speed of an elf as well" I told Zeus in surprise. He hummed "You have" I laughed, noticing that had changed into a more musical laugh, and charged. Our blades met mid air, for Celbic was a formidable swordself. We continued out duel well into the morning, until finally I disarmed Celbic and held my sword at his throat. "Dead" I said calmly, a small smile on my lips. For the first time ever I won. Instead of anger or disbelief I saw joy on Celbic's face "If Eragon has improved like you have, We may finally be able to defeat the traitorous king." I grinned and sheathed kveykva. "Your words humble me, Celbic-elda. Shall we continue this tomorrow?" He nodded and said "You may not find me as easy to beat tomorrow, for I shall be prepared" I grinned and replied "I look forward to the challenge" I then strode over to Zeus and climbed up and we set course for the Craigs.
Training continued, and I progressed faster in a week then I had in the months before. Magic came easier to me, and I could cast more difficult spells with ease. The Ancient Language became easy to talk in, and other aspects of my training because easier. However this could not last. One day Eragon approached me and said "The Varden are about to wage war with the Empire, we are needed" We both knew full well our training was not complete. Yet we had a duty to the Varden to help them win the coming battle. Not to mention I could not wait to return to Meghan. Before we left we received gifts from the Queen. Two bows sung from the trees herself, and since I had not been granted the belt of bealoth the wise, I was granted an elven dagger, which would never break and was sharper than any blade I had ever seen. We thanked her, and were on our way.
The trip was spent with Orik, Saphira and Zeus trading riddles, which I did not take part in. My mind was elsewhere... with Meghan and the Varden.. And back home. It had been a year now since I had left, and I wondered how Percy, Annabeth, Tyson, Grover and the rest of them were fairing. I was glad for Eragon, Zeus, Arya, Orik and Saphira...and even Nasuada, but I missed Percy's companionship. The two of us were unstoppable, working as a well oiled machine. Eragon and I had yet to reach that point. "But you will" Zeus assured in my mind. I could sense guilt flowing through him, for it was because of him I had been torn from everything I knew and thrown into a new war, right after I had been finished with the old ones. He and I both known it had been my choice, but he still felt that way.
With in a week, we had arrived at the border of Surda. As we flew over we saw the Empire's forces, which looked monestrous in number, and a league of no man's land, followed by the demoralizing much smaller force of the Varden and the Surdan's. Upon our arrival the Varden fired on Eragon and I. Eragon took care of the arrows. We then landed and proceeded to Nasuada for our orders.
"Eragon, David? Is that you?" She asked, confussed. Oh yeah... I looked like an elf now. "Aye" Eragon said. When then listened as she filled us in on what had happened. Over 100,000 Soliders?! I had never fought a force so big, and I was filled with a sudden wave of fear. Was I going to die in this strange land away from all the ones I loved? "We will not die David. It is out Enemies who should be afraid, for when we are together we are unstopable." Zeus rumbled in my mind. I then returned to the conversation to find Nasuada asking what they were going to do. Eragon answered for us " I shall Take control of the Du Vrangr Gata and organize them so we may effectively take care of the Empire's Magicians. I do not speak for David though." To which I shook my head "You do actually. You are the leader of the Riders. If you shall being joining the Du Vrangr Gata, then so shall I. Shall we be off?" We both nodded to each other and set off in search of Trianna's tent.
Once we found it we bartered our way into control and spent hours teaching and organizing them, until we were called to Nasuada, who apparently was going on a Parley with the Urgals and wanted both Eragon and I there to make sure no one tries anything. I grudgingly agreed. A deal was struck with almost relative ease, and then the Empire informed us they were going to attack at dawn.
That Night I finally found Meghan. If she was angered or upset about my change of appearance, she did not let me know. We spent the night under Zeus's wing.. .making up for lost time, and making sure we had no regrets if either of us would meet our end. After a few hours though, she fell asleep in my arms. I then let my eyelids fall and enjoyed my waking dreams.
When it was time, we woke up and donned our armor. I was very nervous, because odds were this would be where I died. This battle would be the battle that decided the course of the war. If we won, we would cripple Galbatorix's army, thus leading to us marching right up to his front door, if we lost, we would be forced to retreat and wait, possibly another hundred years, until we were strong enough to attack again. You could sense, as the men marched across the plane, that they knew this as well. They were on edge, many knew they would not survive.
Due to the amount of light and how we had silenced our armor and weapons, we had covered a great distance before the empire realized we were coming and mobilized. Nasuada had placed Zeus and I a fair ways away from Eragon and Saphira, but not so far as to cause a trouble when touching minds. So I only heard a little of Nasuada's war speech, and soon we were charging. Zeus and I were not on the front lines, but close to it, and had a bunch of soldiers..men, dwarf and Urgal alike, assigned to protect us, which I agreed to, as it saved me from having to protect myself from physical attack while I searched for enemy spellcasters.
The first part of the battle I did not have to even lift a sword, for my guards well protected me, and I took care of many spellcasters. Every time I killed one, I used the energy from the men he protected to fill up the gem on the handle of Kveykva, for I knew I would need it. I winced every time a man died though, for I had to share their mind to steal their energy.
The empire though, would not be denied, and soon I was forced to draw my sword and charge into battle. Even so, we were being pushed back slowly towards our camp. Zeus fought with tooth and nail, myself with sword, axe and knife. My speed was unmatched in battle, and any who came close to us perished, but no matter how many I cut down, more solider took their place. Men died around me, most of my guards had fallen around me, leaving me with a couple dwarves and Urgals left... only one human remained. I was beginning to loose hope, and completely lost it when someone shouted that a ship was coming up the river. If those were Empire reenforcement, we were toast. I looked up briefly to see Eragon and Saphira fly towards it and was debating joining them when Meghan was at my side, upon Porkpie, who seemed to be on his last legs. The Pegesi was bleeding from multiple wounds and was barely keeping Meghan up. Meghan suffered a few minor wounds as well, but otherwise she was fine.
Before I could say anything Eragon touched my mind and said "They are friendly, My Cousin Roran is amongst them. Concentrate on the fight!" Both these factors gave me a burst of hope, which Zeus mirored. With a Roar he charged back into battle, me by his side, Meghan by mine. Many men fell to us before we were forced to jump back into the Varden's lines. Then someone shouted "THE DWARVES! THE DWARVES HAVE COME!"I could not stay on the ground any longer, I jumped on Zeus and took to the air just as Saphira did. We landed by the Dwarf king. I dipped my head to the king "Hrothgar, your presence is most welcome" Eragon did something similar. Soon the Dwarves had charged battle, crying "Vor Hrothgarz korda!" Which I mimed in english "BY HROTHGARS HAMMER!" We took flight again and joined the battle. The appearance of the dwarves bolstered the varden's resolve, and we began to push the Empire back to their own camp.
I fought like I had never fought before, kveykva twirling through bodies as easy as air, words of power leaping from my lips with ease. The Varden gave me a wide berth for my path of destruction, but we all froze when a roar filled the air, coming from the empire's side. I looked to the sky to see a Red Dragon with a rider upon its back. "Blast!" I swore. Galbatorix got one of his eggs to hatch at last. I then saw the rider kill the dwarf king with magic and fouled the air with more pungent oaths. Then Saphira and Eragon took to the skies to battle the Red Dragon and Rider. I realized my place was with the varden and continued to fight, although half heartidly as my eyes kept darting to the battle in the sky. Finally Zeus touched my mind and roared "On my back! We shall show these traitors what it is to mess with Zeus Shadowscales and David Lightningsword!" I jumped into the saddle in a second and with a roar, Zeus took to the sky, in hot pursuit of the two dragons. We were too late though as the battle had been taken to the ground, and Eragon had been defeated.
It did not stop Zeus from barreling into the red Dragon, and me jumping off just in time, black blade swishing through the air as I came down hard on the rider. He blocked with Zar;roc and turned my way. I froze as I saw who it was... Murtagh. "You!" I growled, hurt by this betrayal. Before I could attack again Murtagh cast a spell, one the bound me, Zeus, Eragon and Saphira in place. We fought, all four of us. But we were too weak from battle, and he bested us.. Somehow.
Murtagh then explained what had happened all those months ago, how the twins had taken control of those urgals and had bound him with spells to keep him from fighting back. How Thorn had hatched for him and from that moment on they were Galbatorix's slaves. How the black king needed Saphira to birth a new batch of dragons, to save their race.. How Galbatorix wanted me for who I was, and how he wanted to restart the riders. I had to admit, not all of it sounded evil, but I remembered how Galbatorix killed, tortured and betrayed his way to power. I would never succumb to that. "Work with us Murtagh, the Elves have thought us ways to undo spells... to change ones true name. We could help you be free of him, together, the three of us are un stoppable, and we would crush Galbatorix" I said, as the spell still allowed me to speak. He shook his head, however and said "While Thorn and I shall think upon what you have said, until said time we are content with our lot." Eragon then pleaded for our lives and freedom, which Murtagh finally agreed to. Although he warned us not to cross him again, as next time he would be forced to take us in. He then took Zar'roc, proclaiming Eragon a son of Morzan, and left. Once he was out of sight was the spell released. By that time though.. The battle had already ended.. The Varden had one. Yet we had also lost.
I then spent the next hours healing all whom I could, and then went and found Nasuada, who had Arya, Meghan and Orik with her. Soon afterward Eragon came in with Roran, his cousin. We then gave her an account of the battle with Murtagh, and then Roran a full account of how he had come to be with the Varden. This news troubled Nasuada, she then bid us go get some rest.
We walked out together, me, Eragon, Roran and Meghan. Roran then presented his need for Eragon, to attack and Razac and save his love. The memory of what the Razac had done to Meghan was enough for me to agree to come along. Meghan tried to agree, but I shot her down. Once the plans were set, Meghan and I left to have our own arguement.
"I am as capable as Roran." She said angerly, which I nodded to "I agree love, yet Roran is driven by love, you have no such drive to kill the razac. Eragon and I have new powers which will make sure we are not bested by the scum. It will be easy. I will be back in less than two weeks time, you will have Porkpie until then." I said as a gently brushed her cheek with my finger, she then shook her head and said "Porkpie died, took a spear through the heart.." I sighed and then said 'Take Tornac, I have no need for him now, for I can ride Zeus while we travel. The time to hide has past. We are at war. I assure you Meghan, I will return for you." I then repeated the last line in the ancient language, sealing the deal. I would return.. And then we would finish this war, and finally... finally... we could rest in peace.