Chapter 13: To Ellesméra (Part 2)

Link and Eragon continued their journey to Ellesméra bright and early the next day. They were over the Hadarac Desert within an hour or two, a time that was as silent as the grave. Link didn't know Eragon well enough to strike up a random conversation, and he suspected Eragon was the same way.

Finally, Link brought up the conversation that had started the previous day.

"So how do you think it's even possible that Murtagh could have used magic in such a way?" Link asked.

Eragon thought for a moment. "I have no clue. When Galbatorix and Morzan first exiled themselves from the Riders, they hid away in a lone mountain not far from what was then Ilirea. Brom told me that they practiced evil magic that had been long lost for ages until they rediscovered it. I don't think they use magic the same way we do; they must channel the energy from another source. Sorcery is possible, but at the same time impossible for a Rider. If one were not a Rider, sorcery would be the best way to go about practicing magic, but since our magic comes from our dragons, it is the only available way for us to use it."

"Do you think necromancy has anything to do with it?" Link asked.

Eragon's countenance grew dark. "It is possible. Necromancy is a magic that is equivalent to evil in its darkest form. I can think of no other kind of magic that is more evil. Although this seems likely, Brom discarded the idea. I don't know why, but he thought it didn't seem probable. The truth is, I cannot explain how Galbatorix and Murtagh are so powerful. There really is no explanation for it. We could end up finding out how, but as of now we are incapable of doing so. Our focus must be on our training and building our magical skills."

Link nodded, and they fell silent again. Sunset arrived when they were on the borders of Du Weldenvarden.

"How are we going to get to Ellesméra?" Link asked.

"We will likely have to go on foot," Eragon replied. "It will take much longer than on dragonback. I expect it will take three to four days."

It was then that they landed right on the borders of Du Weldenvarden. Link and Eragon underwent the regular routine of setting up camp. Again, their dragons talked to each other while they did the same lying on their bedrolls.

Eragon was absently throwing rocks into the fire when Link spoke.

"Does Oromis know I'm coming?" Link asked.

"I would imagine so," said Eragon. "Not a lot gets past him when it comes to Riders. I still don't know how he found out about me. It wouldn't surprise me if all of Ellesméra knew you were coming. I know for sure that Queen Islanzadí has been alerted."

"Who is Queen Islanzadí?" Link asked.

"Arya's mother," said Eragon. "I'm sure Arya told the queen you were coming."

"Wait, Queen Islanzadí is Arya's mother? Does that make her—?"

"A princess, yes," Eragon finished. "I didn't know until after the Battle of Farthen Dûr. She holds a lot of secrets. There are still a lot of things I don't know about her."

"Well, she's not very friendly," said Link. Eragon smiled.

"No, she's not. I know you'll like her once you get to know her. She has a good heart, she just sometimes has trouble expressing her true feelings without hurting people. I remember a time when she crushed a dwarf's beliefs and basically told him that he was a fool. I was shocked at her lack of concern for the dwarf's feelings and she simply said that she was right and he was wrong. She is very obstinate, and it takes a lot to change her mind."

"I don't like people like that," Link said bluntly. Eragon didn't speak, but from his face Link could see that he took offense. Why he did was beyond Link since it had nothing to do with him, but he let it go.

Eragon yawned loudly. "I think I'll turn in for tonight," he said. "Good night, Link."

"Good night, Eragon." Link then stared at the stars, wondering if Hyrule's sky looked exactly the same while knowing it did.

The following morning, they repeated the same thing they had the previous morning on the outskirts of Petrøvya. It wasn't long before they were in Du Weldenvarden. Saphira and Vanilor had trouble squeezing in between the trees, but Link and Eragon managed quite well.

It felt good for Link to be in a forest. Since he had grown up in Kokiri Forest, it was familiar to him. Eragon noticed the small smile on his face that never left.

"I see you are enjoying yourself," said Eragon.

"Yes, I've always loved the forest," said Link. "I grew up in a forest."

"Really?" Eragon asked. "I don't think you've told me about that."

"There was a war raging in Hyrule around the time of my birth," said Link. "My mother had been mortally wounded, and I'm guessing my father was killed. In desperation, she took me to Kokiri Forest, a place where all the inhabitants are children and never grow up."

"That's very strange," said Eragon.

"Yes, it is strange. No one's ever known why they don't grow up. Anyway, the guardian of the Kokiri Forest, the Deku Tree, took me in and raised me as a Kokiri."

"The Deku Tree? The guardian of the Kokiri Forest is a tree?" asked Eragon, bewildered.

"Yes, it is. The Deku Tree that raised me is dead, however. He died shortly after telling me my own story. I tried to save him, but I was too late. It was then that I fled the Kokiri Forest and didn't come back until I had removed the Master Sword from the Pedestal of Time. None of the Kokiri children recognized me of course since I was seven years older."

"That's an interesting story. I must say my childhood was a lot less exciting. I didn't have any adventure in my life until Saphira's egg appeared while I was hunting in the Spine."

"How old were you then?" Link asked.

"I was nearly sixteen," Eragon replied.

"I was ten when I killed my first monster," said Link. "It was inside the Deku Tree, when I was trying to save him from a curse that Ganondorf put on him."

"Ganondorf ruined your life," said Eragon. "From what you've told me, at least."

"He didn't ruin it," said Link. "But he came close. I'm just glad that he's gone forever."

"But he isn't dead, is he?" Eragon asked.

"No," said Link. "But he's in a place that he won't be getting out of any time soon."

"Where's that?" Eragon asked.

"It's called the Sacred Realm," said Link. "It's where the Six—sorry, Seven Sages locked him up after I defeated him. Zelda says she heard him say something like, 'When I get out of here…' and let off a string of idle threats."

Eragon nodded. It was silent after that as the two Riders continued on their way to Ellesméra, each step bringing them closer to Oromis and their training.

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A/N: Sorry it's been a while, again. I haven't been able to spend much time on this story, but it's mostly all I do with what free time I have. I have begun production on the Mercenaries story I've got an idea for that's posted on my profile. Don't worry; I don't think I'll be posting it until after Visions from the Dark is finished. Once I've finished this story, I'll begin to truly work on Visions from the Dark and it will be my only focus.