Chapter 16: The Crags of Tel'naeír Revisited

Link was shaken awake rather suddenly. He shot up out of his bed and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.

"What is it?" Link asked groggily.

"We are going to meet Oromis now," he heard Eragon's voice say solemnly.

"Okay, just let me get dressed," said Link. Eragon nodded and left Link's suite. Link stood out of bed and began to get dressed in his red tunic when he decided he'd stand out against the trees too much, so he took out his traditional green tunic instead. He was very excited to meet this Cripple Who is Whole that he'd heard so much about.

Once he was dressed, he exited his suite through a staircase made of the tangled roots that were all over the Pinewood City. The staircase led straight into Queen Islanzadí's throne room. Eragon was waiting at the bottom, and Islanzadí sat on her throne waiting patiently.

"Greetings, Link," said Eragon. "Have a good rest?"

"I had a very good rest," said Link. "I'm guessing it has something to do with the air here."

"You guess correctly," said Eragon. "It's much easier to sleep here."

They both approached the queen and knelt before her.

"Rise," said Islanzadí after a moment. Link and Eragon both stood. "It is time you began your training, Link. And it is time you finished it, Eragon."

They both nodded. Islanzadí and her guards then led them out of her grand building and into the forest. There waited Saphira and Vanilor.

Greetings, Link, said Vanilor.

It's good to see you, Vanilor, said Link.

They were led to the edge of Ellesméra, where the buildings were few.

"Link," said Islanzadí. "I must ask you to do something. I must ask you to swear in the ancient language that you will never tell anyone of what you are about to see unless given permission by myself or Arya."

"Why doesn't Eragon have to?" Link asked, confused.

"Eragon has already given his oath," said Islanzadí. "The first time he came to meet Osthato Chetowä, I did not let him pass until he swore the oath. I must ask the same of you and Vanilor."

Link looked to Eragon for help. Eragon nodded that it was okay. Link then gave the oath, as did Vanilor.

Islanzadí then led them past Ellesméra's borders and to an area that was void of trees. They were on the edge of a magnificent cliff.

"These are the Crags of Tel'naeír," said Eragon. "This is where Togira Ikonoka lives."

Link waited to see something, but saw nothing. It was a while before he heard a deep thud and felt its rumble.

Link looked to Eragon, who smiled. This must be him, said Link.

Indeed, said Vanilor. I grow anxious.

There was another great thud, followed in quick succession by a second one. The thuds grew closer together and louder. Finally, they stopped. Link was perplexed.

Suddenly a great gold dragon burst from the edge of the crags, soaring over their heads in the most graceful flight Link had ever seen. The dragon was of colossal size. Link had never seen a beast so large. The Rider on its back seemed the size of an ant in comparison.

Link noticed that one of the gold dragon's legs had been severed. He didn't know what kind of savage would have the heart to do that to a dragon.

Finally, the gold dragon began to land. Each flap of its wings buffeted Link to the point where he felt he would be knocked down. It landed so gracefully that Link didn't even feel it rumble.

The Rider dismounted his dragon by jumping off the saddle and sliding down one of his dragon's legs on his feet, landing with ease and striding up to the other two Riders.

"Greetings, Eragon," said Oromis. "It has been a while." He gripped Eragon by his shoulders in what appeared to be an embrace, but not to the full extent.

"And Link," said Oromis. Link was surprised he knew his name. "It's wonderful to see that Galbatorix's third egg ended up in good hands."

"Th-thank you," said Link, at a loss for words. Oromis chuckled and spoke to Islanzadí briefly in the ancient language. It was quick enough that Link wasn't able to understand what they said. He sensed that not even Eragon knew what they said.

"Mount your dragons, Riders," said Oromis. "We will journey to my home, where we will assess both of your powers."

Link and Eragon complied and climbed aboard their companions.

How are you feeling, Vanilor? Link asked.

If the one who struck such a blow to that magnificent dragon has yet to perish, I will be sure that they are disemboweled, Vanilor said with contempt.

I agree, said Link as they took off, following Oromis and his gold dragon. We will be sure that they suffer.

I must say, said Vanilor, my excitement makes me feel like a hatchling again.

You were a hatchling only months ago, Link reminded him.

I'm sure you know that dragons mature much faster than humans, Vanilor explained irritably. I am already far wiser than you or Eragon.

You have me there, said Link.

It was a while before they arrived at Oromis's house, which was on the bank of a flowing river in the middle of the Crags of Tel'naeír. On the other side of the hovel was a part of Du Weldenvarden that descended from above the crags and down into the crevasse. The crevasse they were in began at Ellesméra's borders, the Crags of Tel'naeír, and ended far to the west.

Oromis lived in a small hovel constructed, not surprisingly, out of what was once a tree. Link marveled at the fact that it was likely built in less than five minutes.

Oromis and his dragon landed by the hovel, so Link and Eragon landed in front of him. There was more than enough room to accommodate three dragons and their Riders.

"Welcome to my humble abode," said Oromis. "This is my companion, Glaedr. He has been with me since the Riders were a major power in Alagaësia."

Greetings, Riders and dragons, Glaedr rumbled. His voice was brimming with wisdom. We welcome you to our home, and hope your time spent here will be enough to give you the power and strength to defeat Galbatorix and return peace to Alagaësia.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

A/N: Kind of an abrupt ending, but I thought that would be a pretty cool place to end it. Now all my readers who were anxious to have them meet Oromis can be at peace! The next chapter will go into their training. And if the training that took place in Eldest bored anyone, don't worry. The training in this fic won't take nearly as long. I won't spend as much time on it so as to preserve its originality. I don't know enough of the ancient language to make it sound believable, and there isn't enough in the back of the books to help me out with what I would like to have in here.

P.S. I know it never mentions it in the books, but if anyone knows the ancient language word for justice, that would be great to know. I seriously doubt that anybody but Mr. Paolini knows that, but it's okay to hope, right?