I own nothing of the Inheritance Cycle!
Thoughts over bond
"Father we have been at this for hours now. Can we not take a break?"
The moment David had stepped into Galbatorix's study he had been drilled with lessons. Ranging from what to where and wh
en, to how to act around certain people. The lessons were unfortunately paying off because he could tell his attitude towards the servants–including Murtagh–has become colder. He's even snapped at Murtagh a couple of times for being to slow. He apologized of course, but they both knew his lessons with Galbatorix were changing him.
Galbatorix even got him to call him father, and he wasn't even pretending to be Neil!
"You need to learn this. The ball is tomorrow and I will not have you making me look bad should you mess up and do something stupid."
Really feeling the love "We've been at this for hours father. I don't think I can learn anymore, even if I wanted to."
Galbatorix paused before finally nodding, "Very well, if you wish to take a break then we shall. Follow me."
Galbatorix took a book from one of the shelves, revealing the passage sitting innocently behind a secret doorway. David made sure to remember which book revealed the passage as he followed Galbatorix into the secret chamber.
David was using his mind to analyze the bare wall at the end of the passage and found that when Galbatorix set his hand on the wall he would push his magic into it, causing the wall to slide away and reveal a hidden room.
When they entered the chamber the two dragon eggs were sitting innocently where David had placed them before. There was gold sitting all throughout the room, and hundreds of vast minds were angrily pushing into David's.
He focused his mind onto the eggs, keeping his mind from touching any others. "Father who was that?"
"In time my son. For now I want you to focus on the eggs."
David was confused, "Father I have already tried my luck with the eggs, and they both rejected me. I don't understand why you wish for me to try again."
"Ah but you see, when you touched the green egg everyone saw it begin shaking. But at the time it did not hatch like we were all lead to believe. I think the dragon knew you were not ready to become a rider and it did not hatch."
"And you believe I'm ready now."
"Yes I believe you are ready now, but we will only know if you are ready should one of the eggs hatch."
With no other choice David walked up to the eggs. He laid his hand upon the red egg first, it was just as cold and still as a the first time he touched it. He smiled when the egg warmed slightly in recognition.
You remember me? David received a positive response.
What about me little one? Hearing Aquila's voice seemed to make the egg even happier.
"Neil," David looked up at Galbatorix and saw the King incline his head towards the green egg.
I will see you tomorrow little one. David removed his hand from the red egg and placed it onto the green one.
Hey there little guy, you remember us? After he asked the question the egg began to shake very slightly. Both he and Aquila could feel that the dragon was happy that they were speaking with it again.
David set both of his hand into the egg to stop steady the egg Stop shaking little one. I know you are happy to hear from us, but I don't want Galbatorix to think you are going to hatch for me.
Galbatorix stepped slightly closer, "Do not try to stop it Neil. The egg might be trying to hatch."
David removed his hands from the egg, but it had already stopped its shaking. They watched for several moments as the egg laid absolutely still before Galbatorix sighed in disappointment.
"It would seem that you are still not ready."
"Father what if I am never ready?" David turned his attention to the surrounding minds, "What if it's just because I'm not meant to be a rider?"
"But you are Neil. You are meant to be a rider I just know it." He walked up to David and set his hand on his shoulder, turning him so he would be face to face with Galbatorix. "You asked me 'who' that was." He removed his hand from David's shoulder and beckoned for him to follow.
Rolling his eyes underneath the leather strip David followed Galbatorix a little ways away from the eggs. They stopped in front of a wall covered in glass boxes. Inside of each box there was what looked to be a stone resting on a cushion, each of the stones were a different size and color. The wall was a rainbow of color, no color was exactly the same.
"Father what are these?" David was pretty sure he already knew what they were. If he didn't know by what they looked like then he knew by the feel of all the different minds touching his own.
Galbatorix didn't answer as he took down a fairly large stone from the wall. He turned from the wall and handed it to David. "I will not tell you what it is something you can find for yourself."
David turned his head to the stone in his arms and tilted his head in question, "Why is it so dim compared to the others?"
"I was never able to get through to this one. Should you be able to I wish for you to tell me immediately."
"Of course father."
Galbatorix led him out of the chamber and back into the study. He sat at his desk when he spoke, "You may return to your rooms, and I expect you to be at the ball on time." Galbatorix looked at David from underneath his eyebrows before turning his attention to the paperwork on his desk.
Sitting innocently on his desk was the "stone", but was infancy an Eldunarí. He didn't know if he would be able to get through to the dragon inside. He was surprised the dragon had lasted this long against Galbatorix.
He turned his attention from the egg when he heard a knock on his door, "Enter."
The door opened to reveal Murtagh carrying a tray of food. He set the tray on David's desk before sinking onto his bed with a satisfied sigh, "This is so much better than that lumpy mattress I have to use."
David narrowed his eyes at Murtagh as he marched over to him. David dragged Murtagh off of his bed by the arm and threw him to the floor. Murtagh was looking up at him in bewilderment.
"Keep your disgusting body off of my bed." He paid no attention to Murtagh's growing fear as his magic kept Murtagh pressed against the floor. It crackled in the air around him as he stalked back over to his desk.
Murtagh shakily got up from the floor. He stood in the center of the room as still as possible, worried David would become more angry if he made any sudden movements. When he felt the oppressive magic disappeared from the air he breathed a silent sigh of relief.
"David?"
Davids shoulders sagged as he sighed. "I did it again didn't I?"
"Why do you act this way?"
"I don't," David voice was intense before he took a deep breath and spoke softly, "I don't know."
"I think I do. I think," Murtagh stood in front of David, "Galbatorix's lessons are starting to get to you."
"Don't be ridiculous."
"I'm not being ridiculous I'm being serious. Ever since you began these 'lessons' with Galbatorix you've begun to change, and not necessarily for the better."
"I haven't changed–" But Murtagh cut him off.
"Yes David, you have. Galbatorix has been teaching you…I don't even know what he's been teaching you because you haven't told me! And now you're becoming some stuck up noble because of it! Your becoming just like Galbatorix."
"I am nothing like Galbatorix." David hissed. He removed the leather strip covering his eyes so he could glare at Murtagh. "Do not think, even for a moment, that I am anything like that wretched being."
"But you are different all the same. This wasn't the first time you be acted like that towards me, or any other servant for that matter."
"Yes but I apologized–"
"That doesn't make it any better!"
Why are you two arguing so? The female voice rang through their minds.
Both Murtagh and David froze at the voice.
Murtagh asked, "Was that Aquila?"
David shook his head, "No. Aquila doesn't sound as wise."
Hey! I'll have you know I am very wise. I just choose to hide it underneath my sarcasm.
A chuckle sounded in all three of their minds Who are you three? I've only ever been in the presence of the egg-breaker for a long while.
"David I'm serious where is that voice coming from?"
David was staring at the Eldunarí on his desk. It pulsed a deep blue color. "Was that you?"
Yes.
"David are you mad? That is nothing more than a–a colorful rock!"
You, child, have no sense of imagination.
David laughed at the affronted look on Murtagh's face, "She told you Murtagh."
He opened the glass box containing the Eldunarí and removed it from the box. He carried it over to the bed and sat against the headboard. Murtagh joined him on the bed, leaving the Eldunarí to sit in between them. He looked up at David, "I hope your ok that I'm touching your bed."
David rolled his eyes but chose to ignored him as he looked at the Eldunarí. "What is your name?"
I will tell you who I am if you tell me who you are and why you two were arguing. The voice had gone defensive.
"How do we know you aren't some spy for Galbatorix?" Murtagh narrowed his eyes at the Eldunarí.
Then you would be in trouble young one because if I was a spy I would be very suspicious right now.
"Galbatorix said he was unable to reach this one and I believe him." Said David.
Murtagh sneered, "Of course you would believe him."
"Can we please not talk about this?"
"Anyway, I'm David and my friend here is Murtagh. But we go by Neil and Ian."
And who is the female presence I feel in your mind David?
My name is Aquila.
That is a unique name little one. Why do you speak with your mind?
Aquila was silent a few moment before she spoke again I am a dragon. I have no other way of speaking.
Ah, I figured. It has been so long since I have made contact with another dragon, I just had to be sure. Who is your rider?
My rider is David. They could hear the pride and love coating Aquila's words.
I can tell you love have a strong bond with each other, that's good. But why are you two separated!
That is something the boys can tell you. And with that Aquila withdrew from the conversation.
"I will tell you more if you can give me your word that you really aren't here just to gain information to tell Galbatorix later."
I am not here to gather information for Galbatorix. I am not loyal to him in any way, shape, or form. I have never even made contact with the oath-breaker an I have no wish to. All of this was said in the ancient language.
David looked up to Murtagh, "That answers that."
"What did she say?"
David repeated what she had said before adding, "It's a good thing I had those lessons, otherwise I might not have been able to understand her." Murtagh said nothing.
What do you mean by lessons?
David cleared his throat, "Perhaps it would be easier to show you…" David proceeded to enter the mind of the Eldunarí and he allowed all of his memories to come forward, starting from when he and Murtagh had been captured from the Varden up to this very moment.
He watched as the female Eldunarí jumped from memory to memory. He watched as the memories flew through his mind, so quick that he couldn't tell what one memory from another. The flood of memories paused when she reached when Galbatorix confessed to being his father, but otherwise she continued on.
When she was done David spoke before she could say anything, "Galbatorix is not my father."
But in the memory…
"You cannot believe everything you see. My real father died when I was fourteen, we just used that woman and some made up man for fake memories to protect my real identity. For all we know he really does have a kid, it just isn't me." David and Murtagh shuddered at the possibility of Galbatorix having a child.
"Will you tell us your name now?" Murtagh asked.
I did say I would tell you who I was didn't I?
"You did indeed. So will you tell us?"
I am known as Saphira.