A/N: AAAAAAATTTTTT LAAAAAAAST. MY LOVE HAS... I don't know the rest of that song. BUT THE CHAPTERS ARE COMING. Check out the A/N at the bottom for more info.
Ooh, don't own Eragon.
Not for the first time, Eragon felt powerless in this war. Arriving at Edoc'sil, there was hardly fifteen minutes of reprieve before the sentries that had been set up reported sightings of the oncoming Forsworn, led by their dark leader. Eragon's eyes immediately went to his father who was leaning against Umaroth.
"Father, you must leave," Eragon said as soon as he was close enough to be heard over the low rabble of the remaining riders and their dragons. The once proud Order, composed of dozens if not hundreds of bonded pairs, was now reduced to a meager nine pairs, ten counting Eragon and Saphira. Brom was the only one to lose his partner and still survive past Thuviel's spell. "You are still wounded. The rest of us will make our stand, but you must retreat."
Instead of agreeing, or even considering the idea, Vrael smiled sadly.
"Would you have me leave the battle because of a single wound?"
"You are the only one of us strong enough to defeat Galbatorix. If there is any hope to end his tyranny, it lies in you, Father. You must leave so that you can fight and be victorious another day."
"I shall not leave, Eragon... I owe it to our fallen just as it is my duty to face Galbatorix this day. I cannot flee now, just as the others would not."
"And what shall become of Alagaesia if we fail today?"
"We will fail today." Vrael's eyes were proud as he looked on his son. "You, however, will succeed. You and Saphira will leave here now, with Brom. You must survive here. You will be more important than I in the finishing of this war, my son."
"What?" Eragon asked, eyes widening slightly. He schooled his expression quickly but was unable to prevent the slight furrowing of his brow. "Father, you cannot-"
"Till death or succession, I am Lead Rider," Vrael said strongly. "As such, I order you to take Brom and Saphira from here. There are Eldunari concealed here, that you know. They must not fall into Galbatorix's hands and, as such, someone must be the one to ferry them away to safety. Venture to Ellesmera. Ensure that Oromis and Glaedr arrived in Du Weldenvarden safely. That is your mission."
"Father-"
"No," Vrael interrupted seriously. His eyes were searching as they studied his son. "You have grown so much. I know you to be capable and independent; you have been since you were but a child... But you must listen to your father once more. I say this as your father as well, Eragon. I cannot have you be lost here. Please. Leave here now."
Eragon's arguments died away as he watched his father's face. Closing his eyes, Eragon bowed his head. It was rare for Vrael to be forthcoming with his feelings towards his son; though Eragon knew he was well-loved, there was very little Vrael could do to show his pride in his son as the Lead Rider. Any outward notion could be seen as favoritism and Eragon would never allow either of their names to be spoken ill of.
"I shall not fail you, Father." Knowing that this could and likely would be the last time he would see his father in life, Eragon did not hesitate to move closer and embrace his father and, though his wound must have been hurting, Vrael returned the hug freely. Parting, Vrael nodded at his son who took that as his dismissal who turned to leave but stopped short when Umaroth's massive head swung closer to Eragon's body. The white dragon stared at Eragon intently.
Keep yourself safe, young one, and Bluescales as well.
I will, Eragon promised solemnly, glancing towards where Brom and Saphira awaited orders from Vrael. Umaroth regarded him quietly before reaching up with a massive claw and carefully snaking the claw's tip under the edge of an aging scale as long as Eragon's thumb and twice as wide. With a low snap, the scale was pried loose.
Keep it and remember.
Eragon picked up the scale and numbly stared at in his palm before returning his eyes to Umaroth's large pearly white eyes.
"I will never forget," he said softly, bidding his father's partner a final goodbye. Umaroth inclined his head ever so slightly before returning his attention to Vrael.
All goodbyes spent, Eragon returned to Saphira's side.
"Vrael has bid us go to Ellesmera," he reported in as clear a voice as he could manage. As predicted, Brom's eyes widened incredulously.
"Minutes before the fight? No! We will stay and fight to the last!"
"There are treasures here, the importance of which you can scarcely imagine, that must not fall into Galbatorix's hands and Vrael is adamant that we be the ones to remove them to safety."
"But-"
Silence, Saphira growled. Eragon could feel her own turmoil over leaving Vrael, Umaroth, and the others to their fate as strongly as his own. He could not begrudge her her impatience in the face of Brom's stubbornness. Vrael and Umaroth lead and guide us still, round-ear. If they say that we are to go to Ellesmera, then to Ellesmera we go.
Before he could let himself get caught in another argument with the human, Eragon darted away towards the stairs, knowing that the Eldunari kept within Edoc'sil were housed in an alcove in the rooms of the Lead Rider at the top floor.
Brom and I will meet you there once he stops complaining.
Thank you, my friend.
Gathering the Eldunari was a simple task- though it was difficult to explain the situation to the twenty or so dragons, all with varying levels of awareness, Eragon made do by hastily showing the dragons his memories pertaining to the Battle of Doru Araeba and Galbatorix which got their attention quickly. Receiving permission to move them, Eragon relocated each Eldunari into the pocket of space he had summoned to store the apprentice riders' swords. As he finished hiding the Eldunari away for travel, he heard familiar wingbeats and turned to see Saphira coming close to the massive space carved from the tower to allow Umaroth entrance.
It is time, Saphira said, her voice and thoughts tinged with sadness. Eragon nodded and went to the entrance. Instead of having Saphira land, he leapt out, ignoring Brom's protestations until he landed skillfully on Saphira's back, quickly making his way to the saddle and sitting behind Brom.
"You could have died!" Brom said as if scandalized. Eragon smirked.
"Saphira would have caught me if I'd fallen. But now..."
We fly!
Edoc'sil was still in sight as the Forsworn fell upon it. Though their escape had seemed undetected, the rest of the broken Order was not so fortunate. Eragon watched, unable to look away, as the proud tower was bathed in dragon fire.
Shapes, almost too indistinct to truly see, flitted through shattered windows. The roars of dragons and the clanging of swords filled the air even as the tower grew farther and farther away. And then, silence fell.
"The unconquerable bastion has fallen," Eragon murmured lowly. "Edoc'sil is no more... Ristvak'baen shall be its name now in memory of those who died defending it."
"The place of sorrow... A fitting name," Brom acknowledged softly.
If the man noticed the tears welling in the elf's eyes, he did not acknowledge it. There would be little time to mourn; now was all that could be granted.
A/N: So, it took a while... Longer than expected... But I've finally updated something!~
This won't be the last update today; I've got a couple other things ready to get rolling and some that are almost good to go. For those of you who are wondering:
Tonight I SHOULD be updating: The Sea Traveler (Naruto), Eragon-Vraelson (Eragon), Another Shot (ATLA), Athena's Hearts (Doctor Who)
What SHOULD be updated by Monday: Thicker than Water (Eragon), anything else I decide passes inspection
Basically, I apologize to everyone who follows ME, because you might get a lot of NEW CHAPTER/NEW STORY emails tonight or this weekend.
BE ADVISED: Updates will not be running on a schedule. If I get a chapter in, I get the chapter in. My job has me scheduled for hella eight hour shifts for the next few weeks so I may be a tad irritable/exhausted/unwilling to write. Bear with me, please. I've got some new stories in the works that I'll have posted sometime soon. Some are one-shots, others short, and a couple that could turn into sagas of epic proportion. I'm playing this one by ear.
WHELP. I gots stuff to update and what-not.
Bye!
^.^ Sue ^.^