Last chapter saw Eragon and Saphira seeing a large landmass ahead of them that would take the Talita several days to catch sight of. anyways onto the chapter. ... Special thanks to DreamWriter89 for helping out a bit with this chapter. (A bit my foot it was actually quite a lot)
Upon their return and telling of their information the elves were ecstatic, even Böldhgarm, who had been wondering when they would reach land. Upon hearing Eragon and Saphira's news he was joyous of it, exclaiming as he made his way to the bow of the ship, "Finally we will be reaching land soon."
Eragon and Saphira spent a portion of the day busying themselves with whatever fancied them, all the while enjoying each others company. Later, Saphira leapt from the bow with Eragon astride her back, taking flight in a scouting trip to this new landmass they had seen earlier. The flight took Saphira only several hours, but the journey by sea would require seven days for the ship.
As they approached both could see that is was vast, its shoreline stretching from their view in a veil of fine mist that began to settle over the surrounding sea.
Eragon spied a beach off to their right and, getting her attention, motioned Saphira to make for it. When they landed Eragon dismounted, stretched and then settled down next to Saphira, who had already relaxed on her side to rest after such a long flight. He nestled against her side and, breathing a sigh of contentment, closed his eyes as he prepared to enter his waking dreams. It wasn't long after that he furrowed his brow, the steady sound of soft breathing accompanying the oddest sense that he was being watched. He cracked open one eye, which instantly moved to the sound's source. Saphira had arched her head around, hovering it over him with a faint grin on her face, and what appeared to him as an odd look in her eyes. Slightly put off, he blinked, opening both eyes and turned his head to look at her. She, on the other hand, remained as she was, her grin growing larger.
Eragon pressed his lips in pause, then took a moment to look over himself and, finding nothing amusing or out of the ordinary, forced a bewildered smile, looked back at her and innocently inquired.
What?
Saphira blinked slowly then sighed and lowered her head to press the blunt of her snout into his chest, nuzzling it with a soft rub before lifting it to flick her tongue in a gentle peck on his neck.
Eragon placed both hands on either side of her maw, giving her a soft rub. Then, chuckling, he asked.
What was that for?
Saphira held his gaze, searching it intently, then replied.
Oh, I don't know. I just felt like doing it. A little something to say I love you.
The sound of rushing air escaped Eragon's nostrils as he stifled a laugh, looking back at her with an expression of quizzical amusement. After a brief pause he gave her another rub and then replied.
I know that Saphira, I love you too.
Afterwards she pulled back and then gently laid her head atop the warm sand, her eyes open with that same twinkle as she continued to look at him. Eragon followed her movement and paused to regard the twinkle that was still in her eyes as she watched him, wondering to himself what had spurred such an odd show of affection. Moreover, was the impression it left upon him, certain warmth that filled his chest, setting a whole new tone for this time alone with her. Eragon looked down and rubbed his hands together, noticing for the first time that the fingertips of the one he'd used to rub her were tingling, an odd sensation considering they had never done so before. He loosed a quick breath then shook his head and leaned back against Saphira, closing his eyes again.
Eventually he drifted into his waking dreams. Saphira lovingly watched him for a while longer before her gaze moved to the satchel, containing the book of prophecies, lying next to Eragon.
She lifted her head and, with her maw, carefully took the book out and set it down on the sand. Saphira watched the book open, its pages turning of their own accord. During this time Eragon was in a half sleep and was not paying attention to what she was doing.
The turning stopped and settled on two separate pages, both holding half of what appeared to be another prophecy.
She looked at the pages and began reading the words within.
'Take heed of the words writ here in, ye who read these forgotten pages.
Evil stirs beneath the stone. Darkness dwells beneath the waves. Chaos breaths within the flames. Destruction thrives upon the wind. Yet... purity pulses within the Spirit.
A new land and a new age will begin but a price must be paid.
Trust not the twelve, ye who ventures unto Ta'al Va'keros.
Poison pulses beneath the shards.
Voices rise to taint the bond.
Take heed and forget not the one whom you love, Saphira-Brightscales, For he shall bring peace to the new world.'
Saphira was instantly disturbed slightly by the fact that whomever had written this particular prophecy would have known what her name was. She read on.
'These words are reserved for the one by name of Eragon-Shadeslayer.'
This would have bothered Saphira but when it came to the fact that this was Dragon Prophecy she was itching to know what Eragon's fate would be. Sadly she would have to wait for him to wake in order to hear the words.
She laid her head down and began to wonder what their fate would end up being. She began to fall asleep when she saw something flash and gleam in the distance on down the beach. She would have moved to find out what it was but did not wish to disturb Eragon, who sounded as if he were asleep now. She was glad that he was at peace but for her things were not so peaceful after the prophecy she had read.
To say that it disturbed her would be an understatement, because at this moment and from now on she would do everything that she could to make sure that Eragon were safe. She was actually afraid that she would lose the only one who was constantly with her from the beginning to the end and now there was the prospect that she'd have the mate that she desired. Though she'd have to wait for some length of time, she didn't care. She would wait for him to become a full dragon.
She laid her head down and worried about what would possibly happen in their near future. She raised her head up to look to the sky and saw that night fall was soon to be upon them. She laid her head back down and would try to sleep.
"Don't sleep." A voice echoed in her mind semi frantically.
She raised her head swiftly and was on her feet before a groan was heard from Eragon. She looked around, after seeing that no one was around she laid back down on the soft sand and curled around Eragon. SHe laid her head back down to sleep again.
"Don't sleep..." The voice echoed in her mind again.
She raised her head and looked around and said.
"Who are you? And why do you tell me not to sleep?" She asked the empty air.
"Don't sleep... or they'll find you." The voice said as if suddenly panicked.
"Who? Who will find us if I sleep?" Saphira asked.
"Doesn't matter... Darkness comes..." The voice was sounded more and more terrified the long it lingered. "Run!"
That last sounded more like an order and alerted her all the more because the sound of it was much like Brom's voice. Not one to ignore the wisdom of one like Brom, Saphira got to her feet, picked Eragon up off the ground and was about to take flight.
"Don't fly... they'll see you... run just run. Stay to the ground." The voice sounded like it was utterly frightened but seemed like it was gaining more courage as if to lend strength.
Saphira did not like staying on the ground but resigned herself to running along the ground. In her path she ran across what had glinted earlier and saw that it was another Dragon Soul. She picked it up and managed somehow to place it with the other one in Eragon's side pouch. Yet she kept running.
As she did keep running that voice from earlier echoed in her mind again.
"Find me... In the valley there is truth. Seek the cliff face. Do not fly. Climb. Safety is there. You'll know it when you see it." The voice faded after that and seemed completely gone from her mind.
Saphira kept running and ran through the forest before coming to a cliff face. She wanted to fly yet she heeded to warnings given to her. She shook her head and climbed down the cliff face and wound up on a covered ledge that went into a cave. She kept going further into the valley before finding another cave, this one behind a waterfall.
She entered into the cave and was hit with the smell of burning wood combined with water. Eragon had woken up some time ago and had managed to climb to her back. Looking around the cave Eragon drew Brisingr from it's sheath and was wary of the area. He had used a minor spell to dry himself off so that if there were trouble he could defend against it.
A voice echoed in the cave, quietly. "You were not followed... yes?"
The voice registered in Saphira's mind that it was the one from before that had told her not to sleep and not to fly.
"Who are you? Show yourself!" Eragon demanded.
"Ah... yes... the rider... or should I say... the Dragon To Be." The voice said as a person stepped out from the shadows.
The person looked to be wearing fur clothing and carrying a staff adorned with a pure crystal decorated with many glyphs on it. His overall appearance was quite odd. Around his neck was something that looked like an hourglass while his overall physical features showed him to being gaunt, almost sickly so. He looked tired, decrepit, and quite weak. Though his features seemed like a mix of elf and human he did not seem like either.
He looked at both Eragon and Saphira for a moment before speaking.
"I... am Aro'dan and it has been many ages since I last saw a pair of great dragons... And you two are by far the greatest... Eragon... Shining with a silver nimbus upon him... and Saphira... ever brightly glowing with the color of a perfect sapphire." The man said.
Eragon looked at Aro'dan like he was mad.
"What are you talking about? There is only one dragon here." Eragon said as he motioned towards Saphira.
"Yes yes of course. But, young Eragon... You are more dragon than you would have yourself to believe. How else would you explain the fact that you can read the ancient dragon language of prophecy?" Aro'dan said as he walked up to Eragon.
Eragon held his sword at the ready because he did not trust this guy. The man looked at Eragon then at the sword and spoke a few words that both Eragon and Saphira understood.
"Be at peace for I mean no harm." Aro'dan had said.
Eragon shook his head but relaxed and returned his sword to it's scabbard.
"Now come, sit, relax, and be at ease. You are safe here." Aro'dan said as he walked towards the fire and sat down near it.
Eragon walked over to the fire as well and sat on the rough stone. Saphira sat behind Eragon but kept her senses alert for any sign of danger. Over all the cave seemed quite normal save for the piled up tomes and books in one spot. Further back looked to be a bed while one of the stones had been smoothed off into the shape of a table in fact the floor of the cave was quite smooth as well as if it had been walked on for many years. She began to wonder who this strange man was till she noticed some carvings on one of the walls.
One was of two dragons, one marked with the glyph for Silver and the other marked with the glyph for Sapphire. She stared at the two images for the longest of time and was soon entranced by them.
Meanwhile, Eragon had stopped talking with the old man and had been standing beside her for some time staring at the same work of art. The detail that had gone into each dragon was painstakingly great. The wings of the silver one were flared out as if to seem either protective, intimidating, or to show off. Eragon stifled a laugh at the latter before looking at the Sapphire one. It was even more well drawn than the silver one it also nearly took Eragon's breath away as the beauty of the dragon was exceedingly great.
Aro'dan took note of them staring at the drawing and smiled, he had also noticed Eragon stop breathing for just a moment when he looked at the sapphire dragon. After that Eragon looked to Saphira and almost stopped breathing altogether but he also stumbled into her side bringing her out of her trance like state. She looked down at Eragon and figured that he was tired. She yawned slightly as she realized that she was tired as well.
She lead Eragon over to an unoccupied spot in the cave and laid down making sure that he didn't collapse. She was soon curled around him and he was resting against her belly, his eyes closed as his breaths came in a slow rhythmic pattern. She smiled and craned her head around so she was facing him, closing her eyes she smiled as she thought about the fact that Eragon would be her mate.
Aro'dan simply smiled before quietly finding the book of prophecy that was on Eragon's person in a satchel at his waist. With the deft ease of a master thief the old man was holding the book in his hands and spoke.
"So long it has been since I last held such a book, yet they hold it and have learned much of what wyrda holds for them. This book is the only and last book that survived The Breaking that gave way to the Curse. I am humbled and yet thrilled to see this day has come." Aro'dan said as he opened the pages to the two page prophecy.
"The prophecy that foretells a coming battle and a choice to be made." Aro'dan said and read the words.
'Take heed of the words writ here in, ye who read these forgotten pages.
Evil stirs beneath the stone. Darkness dwells beneath the waves. Chaos breaths within the flames. Destruction thrives upon the wind. Yet... purity pulses within the Spirit.
A new land and a new age will begin but a price must be paid.
Trust not the twelve, ye who ventures unto Ta'al Va'keros.
Poison pulses beneath the shards.
Voices rise to taint the bond.
Take heed and forget not the one whom you love, Saphira-Brightscales, For he shall bring peace to the new world.'
Aro'dan looked at the second page and read the other part.
'Take heed of these words and hold them in your heart for their truths shall lead you to a greater future.Heed the feelings of she with Sapphire, for her love shall be your anchor.
Blood shall flow upon the ground and soon kin will call upon kin.
Aid in the form of Crimson shall arrive and honor bound fight to protect the future.
Heed these words Eragon-Bromson and know their truths.
Seek not love beyond what has been in your life since Carvahall.
Her heart will make you strong, It's strength shall make up for your weakness.
Know this for the Souls of the Damned wake. The poison flows.'
Aro'dan looked up from the pages and to the sleeping two, he smiled before heading over to a straw covered spot on the floor and sat down with his legs crossed. He closed his eyes but not into sleep did he go, instead he entered into a restful trance.
"There is much ahead in their future and yet I can not see where it will take them. One thing I do know is that their lives will be filled with trials and hardship far greater than those of Alegaesia. It will be Eragon who causes Saphira pain yet like wise it will be Saphira who causes Eragon pain till a day comes that they swear the Dragon Oath." Aro'dan said in a whispered tone as he caused the book of prophecies to return to the satchel at Eragon's side. "For one to know the possible fates ahead one must be cautious as the threads of fate weave themselves into the fabric of time. To know ones fate is a burden."
Aro'dan fell silent and the cave became silent save for the crackling of the fire and the nocturnal creatures that dwell outside.
AND DONE!... that was a nice chapter wasn't it? well in any case it was great in my opinion. Yet again Special Thanks to DreamWriter89 for their help. So we see more prophecies in this chapter... That book has landed a near important role in this story hasn't it. in any case I had suffered a great bout of writers block and the fact that I have just started back to reading the Inheritance Cycle has given me a touching on inspiration to start back on this. Yet again I hope you guys enjoyed it. Updates will be at least once a week. (To save me from the writers block)