I own nothing of the Inheritance Cycle!
Thoughts over bond
Over the next couple of days the air was filled with tense anticipation. Most came from the Varden and Empire's soldiers, but their little group had their own anticipation for the upcoming battle. Aquila was more excited than anything, prepared to fly into battle and finally reveal herself to the masses.
To try and make her let go of some of that energy David told her to go practice some kind of aerial maneuvers while he stayed on the ground with Murtagh and Thorn. She did as he said and flew high in the air until she was just an undefinable shape in the sky.
Murtagh saw David massage his temples, as if trying to ward off a headache. "Are you well, David?"
David removed his hands from his temples and looked up to Murtagh, "Yeah, but our minds are so joined together I can feel her every emotion and read her every thought. Her excitement at just the thought of fighting and revealing herself is overwhelming."
"If it is her thoughts that are bothering you, why send her off?" Murtagh motioned up to the sky where they last saw Aquila.
"So I can begin teaching you a little…and so I don't have to deal with her constant fidgeting."
Murtagh seemed to understand that he wanted Aquila to let out some of her energy, but he seemed perplexed when David said he would teach him. "You want to…teach me something? What?"
David crossed his legs and sat in front of Murtagh, "How much of the ancient language do you know?"
That was how they spent their morning. David taught Murtagh some of the ancient language he didn't know, almost to the point where Murtagh would be fluent. Turns out he had learned the language from his mother but had forgotten some of it over time.
David helped teach him what he forgot while Thorn sunbathed off to the side. He had grown pretty quickly since he hatched. At about a week old Thorn's shoulder was just shy of reaching Murtagh's knee.
David and Murtagh were in the middle of an almost fluent conversation in the ancient when Aquila contacted David The young rider has come.
Breaking his conversation with Murtagh David looked at the Varden's camp and he could have sworn it looked a little more lively, but from their distance he could quite make out the shape of Saphira's form.
You know what I've just thought of?
What?
I never thought of how Brom would react to seeing Saphira, even if she is in her Eldunarí.
He will be overjoyed little duck. Why are you so worried?
Well Brom might not even know of the existence of Eldunarí and here I am possibly about to tell him one of the dragons most treasured secrets.
He may already know about it little duck. And you only need to tell Brom about Saphira, not what she is or anything about it.
Alright. "Murtagh, when the battle is over and we are with the Varden, don't tell anyone about the egg," when Murtagh began trying to protest David spoke over him, "Or about Saphira." As he said this David gestured to Saphira's Eldunarí.
"David we took the eggs so we could use them in the war against Galbatorix! And we could use Saphira's help!"
"No, we only got the eggs because you wanted to get Thorn, we were just lucky enough to get both of them both. And Saphira's existence is going to stay between you, me, Thorn, Aquila, and Brom."
"You know who the egg will hatch for and you're just going to keep that a secret?"
"I will not keep it a secret from the one he hatches for," Davids voice was soothing, "But whether or not they will want to be a rider in this war I shall leave up to them."
Murtagh sighed in acceptance, "Fine, but why tell Brom about Saphira?"
David raised his brow at Murtagh, "Because Saphira was his dragon and he has every right to know about her. That and she wouldn't be happy if we kept her a secret from him would she?"
Murtagh conceded his point, "No I suppose not."
When evening time came Aquila landed on the ground behind them, stretching her wings above them before curling up on the ground, tired from her full day of flying. They all looked up when they heard a challenging roar echo from the Varden's camp. "Well Saphira sounds ready for battle." remarked David.
With the battle not until morning they decided to eat a dinner of apples–Thorn eating a deer Aquila brought back for him–and sat back against Aquila's side and watch as the Varden's tents lit up the night, accompanied by the lights from Empire soldiers.
David looked over at Murtagh and saw he still didn't have a shirt on. They had been unable to get any new clothes since they left. Removing the vest from over his tunic he gave it to Murtagh. He took the best and looked at it with confusion. "What is this for?"
"We're about to go into a battle. I wouldn't feel comfortable if you fought while totally shirtless."
Murtagh seemed grateful as he pulled the vest on, "Thanks." David nodded his head and silently whispered protection spells over Murtagh. If Murtagh noticed the spells being put over him he said nothing as he laid down and allowed Thorn to curl up next to him.
David laid back as well and watched as Aquila's wing slowly fanned out above them, blocking the outside world from view.
They all jumped awake when they heard the distant sound of an alarm horn ringing. Aquila's wing snapped open from above them, allowing Murtagh and David to stand up from the ground. They saw that the people of the Varden had moved forward, making them realize the battle had started.
Aquila stood up with an air of excitement radiating off of her in waves. As Thorn scrambled onto her back David created a saddle for him and Murtagh to sit in. Apparently David and Murtagh were being too slow, making Aquila begin to fidget even more Hurry up!
Alright alright! Stop moving and we might be able to climb onto you. She didn't stop moving but David and Murtagh did eventually get into the saddle. Before she took off David put the Saphira and the egg into a bag he had made along with the saddle. He didn't want to have to focus too much on them while he was trying to fight or use magic.
Shooting up into the sky Aquila rose until she was well above the battle. They watched as the Varden and the Empire clashed together. Eragon and Saphira were placed someways behind the front line of soldiers. After awhile of the Varden getting nowhere against the Empire soldiers Eragon and Saphira rushed forward and began cutting through the enemy soldiers themselves.
They lazily flew around in the sky as the battle waged on below them. Aquila patiently waited for David to tell her when she could show herself bit he never did. He sensed her growing agitation and sent calming thoughts over the bond Soon Aquila, soon. I'm waiting for the perfect moment.
Once he said that he saw dwarves coming in from the east. What he also saw was Saphira flying up towards them from the ground Shit, Aquila move!
She felt his urgency and immediately shot to her left, away from the oncoming dwarves. David watched as Saphira stopped to hover on the air, both she and Eragon letting out a loud howl of greeting to the dwarves appearance. They returned to the ground and Aquila flew back to her original position. The Varden seemed to fight with a renewed vigor.
Rising once again from the battle Saphira and Eragon flew off in the direction of the Jiet River. They weren't gone for very long before they returned and landed before the dwarves. Roran must have made it. I'll be honest I forgot all about him.
Yes yes that wonderful. Now when can we enter the fight?
I figured we would do it at the same time Murtagh did in the book, just without killing the dwarf king, Hrothgar.
You are too late for that David.
What do you mean? David was confused by what Aquila had told him.
It would seem that whatever spellcasters are left with the empire had banded together and took out the ones protecting Hrothgar. Eragon was not able to save him in time.
David froze on the saddle. Murtagh noticed and tried asking him what was wrong but David didn't answer. He is dead?
Yes little duck. Though Murtagh was not the one to kill him, it seemed this was always the battle that would take him.
Sadness creeped into David at the thought of the dwarf kings death Well then, it would only be right to avenge him wouldn't you say?
It was like a dam had been released as Aquila was filled with pure joy at just the thought of fighting. Letting out a deafening roar Aquila dove towards the nearest cluster of Empire soldiers. He could see that the battle below had come to an absolute stand-still at Aquila's sudden appearance. Even though the Empire had known of Aquila's existence, they had figured she would have been somewhere else when they hadn't seen her at the beginning of the battle.
Their shocked state allowed Aquila to descend upon the group of soldiers. She released a torrent of flames onto the cluster of soldiers before snapping her wings out to glide over the armies. Lowering herself enough so she could swipe at any soldiers she passed over.
A beat of her wings pushed them into the sky as they flew towards where the Varden needed the most help. "You could have warned me we were going to fight before diving like that!" Murtagh yelled at him.
David answering laugh was lost to the wind as Aquila dove down for a second time and allowed her flames to burn the Empire soldiers. She snapped a couple of them in her jaws before taking to the sky once more.
She released the soldiers from her jaws and would have dropped to the ground once more, but a roar from behind them made Aquila fly around to face the oncoming sapphire dragon.
It seemed that they had yet to catch on that they aren't enemies for Saphira released her own torrent of flames at Aquila. She avoided the flames with ease and allowed Saphira to fly over them. Aquila turned around to face her once again and hovered in the air, waiting to see what she would do next.
She didn't disappoint as she raced towards Aquila, seemingly intending to fight with her head on. Aquila sent her own current of flames at Saphira, but with their connected minds David knew that the flames would not do any harm, for they were what Aquila had been working on. These flames do not burn.
While they were distracted by the flames Aquila dove back towards the ground, intent on finishing off the last of the Empire soldiers when Aquila was struck in her thigh. Racing past them was Eragon, and following after him was Saphira. Aquila gave an enraged roar as she turned her body and dove at Saphira.
The jarring impact almost threw Murtagh off of the saddle as Aquila forced Saphira's wings against her body and dove for the ground with Saphira caught in her talons. David used magic to protect Aquila's stomach from any attacks Eragon decided to try with his sword.
Any attempt Saphira made to try and get herself free was futile as they neared the ground. The Varden below them looked up, an any happiness at winning the battled was replaced with despair as they saw their rider about to be crushed into the ground.
Aquila snapped out her wings and hovered above the ground before promptly dropping Saphira with a loud thud. She landed next to and reared back as if to release a jet of flames. Saphira cringed back, fully expecting the flames, but all Aquila did was release an ear-splitting roar before retreating a little ways away from the Varden.
David jumped out of the saddle and looked at Aquila's wound, he was far enough from the Varden that they would not be able to tell that it was him but he still lifted his hood for precaution. The wound was not so bad, for Aquila's size it was more of a scratch really. He held his hand up to the wound and spoke "Waíse heill" and watched as her skin (scales, whatever) knit back together.
He heard Aquila growl low in her throat. He looked up to see she was looking at something behind him. He turned around to see that Eragon had climbed off of Saphira and was slowly walking towards them, Saphira trailing behind him warily and ready to fight if necessary.
Up in the saddle David heard a much smaller growl and realized is was Thorn. Eragon must have seen him because his steps faltered. "You can stop right there, boy." David made it so that the shadows changed his voice, making it seem like each of his words was followed by whispering echoes. He would wait for the others to reveal his identity. Murtagh seemed to understand what he was doing, as he blocked his face from view with a curtain of hair.
"Who are you?" Eragons voice had changed since they last spoke. It seemed to have a more musical quality to it,man devil remembered it was because he had attended that elf festival.
"You will find out soon enough." Everyone could hear the amusement in his tone.
"The leader of the Varden would like to speak with you."
"Does she? Well then best not keep her waiting." David lifted the hood of his cloak and allowed it to cover his features. Murtagh stayed on Aquila's back as they followed Eragon and Saphira towards the Varden's encampment. Saphira occasionally throwing looks back towards Aquila.
They were walking for only a little while before a grim looking blonde man stopped directly in front of them. He looked at Aquila and David with caution before turning his attention to Eragon. Davids lips quicker when the man punched Eragon on the chin.
David realized this was Roran and he was telling Eragon the Ra'zac had taken Katrina and wants to rescue her. I want nothing to do with that mission.
They continued walking. David ignored the conversation going on next to him as he though of how it would go when he revealed that he and Murtagh were still alive, adding on the fact that they're both riders David wasn't sure how this would go.
Eragon stopped and swept back the flap to one of the pavilions. Roran entered first and Eragon gestured for David to follow. When he entered the pavilion he contacted Murtagh Try to keep you face covered for awhile. Murtagh did as he suggested and warily slid down Aquila's side, landing unsteadily on the ground with a loud thump.
Once Murtagh passed into the pavilion Eragon allowed the entrance to close. Saphira stayed outside to presumably keep an eye on Aquila. Inside the tent was Brom, standing off to the left as he watched the heated discussion between Arya and Nasuada.
They stopped bickering and the trios attention shifted towards the new arrivals. When she saw Eragon among them her eyes filled with relief. When he walked up to her she threw her arms around him in relief, "We were worried. When you disappeared with that dragon we assumed the worst."
She looked over at David, Murtagh and Roran. "And who might they be?"
Bringing Roran forward Eragon introduced him to both Nasuada and Arya before turning back to the two "strangers" in front of the entrance. "They are the ones who rode in with the dragon. As for who is the rider, I do not know."
A happy squeak sounded from the entrance. Everyone looked to see a red dragon wiggle its way through the flap and climb up onto Murtagh's shoulder. Everybody stared, stunned, as Murtagh casually scratched the hatchlings chin.
"Impossible." The whispered word came from Brom at the same time Arya drew her sword and pointed it at them.
"Who are you? Have you been sent here by Galbatorix?" Her voice was cold and demanding.
They were all taken aback when both Murtagh and David snorted in laughter. "There is no need to fret Dröttningu. We have nothing to do with the Mad King." Hearing the stronger call Arya a princess set everyone even more on edge, for technically he should not have known that.
"Then if not, where did you get that hatchling? the only remaining eggs in Alagaësia were with Galbatorix."
Awkwardly scratching the back of his head David spoke, "Well, I mean we were in Urû'baen at one point–but he didn't know who we were!" David rushed to finish the sentence when Arya looked as though she was about to stab him.
"Then who are you?"
Allowing his voice return to normal David raised his hand to remove the hood of his cloak. When his face was revealed he allowed his amusement to show, "Has it really been so long that none of you recognized me?" Murtagh revealed his face as well, allowing his smirk to be seen.
Everyone in the tent—besides Roran—was looking at them in astonishment. Arya's was not as prominent, although as she stared at David he saw her emotions flash through her eyes, too fast for him to decipher.
"Prove it." The suspicious words came from the ever suspicious Brom. It's good to see he's still alive.
"You are the father of Eragon and the step-father of Murtagh." David gestured to Murtagh. Brom seemed to be slipping but still seemed unsure. David sighed, "I know where over two hundred dragon eggs can be found."
Brom accepted the last statement and walked up to David and Murtagh. He drew them each into their own hug. "I am glad to see you both are alive and well."
His presence was replaced by Eragon who drew them both into a hug as well, his eyes were glassy from unshed tears. "I believed you both to be dead."
David laughed lightly and replied, "You didn't think we would leave you so easily did you?" Eragon returned to stand by Roran and Brom.
Coming up to David, Nasuada stood and slightly bowed, "Welcome, Argetlam, it is an honor to make your acquaintance." David bowed his head back, "It is a pleasure to be here." When Nasuada stood in front of Murtagh the air around them seemed to shift as they greeted each other as friends. Very close friends.
Arya was the last to come up. She slowly stepped up to David, as if unbelieving that he was actually there. She brought up here hand and dragged her fingertips lightly along his jaw before returning her hand to her side. "How is it that you are alive? I lost you that day in the tunnels."
"When the Urgals brought us out of the tunnels, Aquila rescued us."
The unfamiliar name seemed to click within Nasuada's mind, "Is that the name of the dragon."
"Aye, that is her name."
"Do you know who her rider would be?"
In response David removed the leather glove from his left hand and showed it to everyone in the room. "Who did you think her rider would be?"
Eragon and Brom seemed the most shocked out of everyone else in the tent, "You've been a rider this entire time?" The question came from Eragon.
"Indeed I have been, and I'm sorry I never told you sooner. I never believed it to be the right time."
"How did you come across her?" The question came from Nasuada. "The only eggs left were those with Galbatorix and none of them had had the same coloring as her."
David allowed himself a few moments to think of how he would start his explanation. "Eleven years ago I lost my remaining family, my mother, to a fire. With nowhere to go I fled into the Spine with nothing but the clothes on my back. I was forced to adapt to living in the forest as I made my way throughout the Spine.
It was only a couple of days later when I found her egg in a river. I did not know it was an egg at first, of course. Thinking it was just a pretty stone I took it with me wherever I went. It was only a few weeks later that what I once thought was a stone turned out to be an egg when it began hatching. I was understandably surprised when it turned out to be a dragon egg. After she hatched I traveled from town to town as she grew older, keeping her a secret from Alagaësia."
Brom spoke up after David finished his story, "I remember you."
David looked at Brom for an explanation. "It was the same time, around eleven years ago, when Eragon got lost in the Spine. When the town saw him again he was accompanied by a man with auburn hair and striking aqua eyes. I never made the connection between you two until just now."
David nodded his head. "Yes I did find him while in the Spine and I helped him return home. It was maybe a couple days after that when Aquila hatched for me."
"I remember little of my time lost in the Spine," Eragon was next to speak, "but what I do know is that you are the reason I was able to leave the Spine. Without you I may have died, and I wish to thank you." Eragon gained a blank look in his eyes before focusing once more on David. "Saphira gives her gratitude as well."
"You are welcome."
The silence they had descended into was broken by Thorns purring. They turned to see Murtagh holding him as if he were a baby and scratching his stomach. "Your story explains how you obtained your dragon, but not how you have managed to get a hold of a dragon who should be in the hands of Galbatorix." Nasuada was looking between David and Murtagh, silently demanding how they had come across the red dragon.
Murtagh didn't seem like he would be speaking anytime soon so David spoke, "We did tell you we were in Urû'baen." David pointed out.
"Why would you go off to Urû'baen? You could have returned to the Varden. Or being a rider you could have gone with Eragon to the elves to be trained as a proper rider."
David felt slightly offended at Arya's last sentence, "You do not believe that over the past eleven years I am not already a proper rider?"
"It is not that you are not a proper rider," Arya soothed, "but there are many things a rider should need to know that you may not."
David nodded his head in acknowledgement but continued with the story, "We did not return to the Varden because when I told Murtagh one of the eggs in Galbatorix's possession would hatch for him, he had me agree to help him try to steal the egg." He gestured to Thorn, "As you can see, we were successful."
"How did you know the egg would hatch for Murtagh?" asked Nasuada.
David shrugged indifferently, "I knew." Nasuada waited for him to explain further, but when no more information was coming forth she went to speak again but David interrupted her, "I will say no more in the matter." She reluctantly let the issue go, but David was sure she would eventually bring it up again.
Nasuada settled for another question, "When you obtained the dragons egg–" murtagh cut her off, "Thorn. His name is Thorn."
Nasuada nodded her acknowledgement and continued, "when you obtained Thorns egg, were you able to get the green egg as well?"
David didn't miss a beat, "Unfortunately Galbatorix caught up with me before I was able to get the other egg." He sighed as if disappointed he wasn't able to get both eggs.
"What do you mean Galbatorix caught up with you?" The worried question came from Arya.
"I was getting the eggs when Galbatorix found me."
"And he let you go?" The incredulous question came from Brom.
"Oh no, he fought me. But I was able to distract him enough to get away. I was forced to leave the other egg if I wanted to escape."
"When you were in Urû'baen, did you find out anything that could be important?" Nasuada seemed to be thinking deeply about something.
"What do you mean?" David looked at her intently.
"What do you know about the son of Galbatorix?"