Suddenly the elf was once more on her feet and dashing towards them. Saphira roared out a challenge to the grey figure who, taken momentarily by surprise, had stopped in its tracks. The elf warriors soon reached the fleeing elf and formed a ring around her, protecting her from the oncoming onslaught of spells. She cried out 'no!' and burst away from them whilst telling them too run to. 'You've no idea how strong they are,' she gasped, 'you'll all be slaughtered!'
'No,' their leader contradicted her, 'you, Eragon and Saphira shall not. Now run to Ellesmera and be safe, for then we shall know we have not failed you and our queen.'
'You shall be remembered.' The young elf said solemnly.
'And that is all we ask,' replied their leader who smiled sadly down at her, 'now go, my fine young elf.' With a quick graceful bow the elf turned and leapt forcefully towards Eragon who waited upon Saphira, her slim young face carried a look which blazed across the distance to them. But even that could not mask the tears that streamed down her beautiful angled face. Be careful what you say Eragon, Saphira cautioned him. I will, Saphira. I understand it must be overwhelming to have a group of elves die for you when you don't even know why they sacrifice themselves.
You have a better understanding than I thought little one. You are growing up.
It only takes a little empathy but you're right. I am beginning to understand the elves and their understanding of nature.
Just that second an explosion near Saphira's feet cut short their conversation, had they been a little further to the right they'd just be a pile of ash and bones now. 'Quick' he cried out, 'we must leave now!' The elf had stopped, her path towards Eragon and Saphira blocked by a huge mound of ash and molten rock. She glanced behind her and saw the imposing figures of her pursuers, then turned her eyes towards the obstacle in front of her. That's all it is, she thought, another obstacle on my path to the safety of the dragon and her rider. Well, I've past worse obstacles in my journey I can pass this one too, infact this my even prove to my advantage. She scanned the destruction behind her and caught the eyes of the elf she had conversed with. He smiled and inclined his head, an obvious answer to her unspoken question, reaching across the plains she touched his consciousness. Do what you must, he told her, and you must do that. She pulled away and stared at the mountain of chaos in front of her, knowing that the exhausted warriors would not be able to shield themselves from the molten rock. Knowing that her ceaseless pursuers would survive it. Knowing it was the only chance of escape that had the tiny possibility of working. Knowing that she'd be killing her allies, to save her own skin.
Saphira had taken off and swiftly flew over towards the hindered elf. 'Get out of the way!' called up the elf, waving them away. 'I'll be over there in a second.' Saphira balked and turned the way the elf had pointed while Eragon bent low over her and watched as the young elf raised her arms, a question was running feverishly through his mind. What the hell was she doing? The elf raised her arms, focussing the last of her energy on the deadly mound before her. Closing her eyes she exerted her will towards it and straining she lifted it up holding it high above her. Though the deadly mountain swayed high above her, no ash or molten rock touched the beautiful elf that held it there. 'Bloody hell,' whispered Eragon his face shining with disbelief. He knew of no elf that could lift such a burden, even when at the height of their powers. He also knew that without Saphira's help, he wouldn't be able to either. Still with her eyes closed the elf turned and faced her allies and her enemies, the mountain of fire bathing her in a beautiful but deadly light. A tear fell down her cheek as she whispered sorry and threw the flaming mound at both of the opposing sides. They were too close to each other to kill only the one and she knew that if she hadn't done that she would now either be dead or captured. Still, that did not comfort her as she knew that she had scarified her allies to save her own skin and it hadn't even killed her enemies. Another tear joined the rest and flew down her face like water in a waterfall as she turned her head away from the destruction she had wrought, never had she thought it would come to this. Her desperate eyes searched through the smoke and ash trying to find where the rider had gone, in that instant a crash behind her alerted her to the fact that her enemies were free and after her once more. Dragging her feet into a weary jog she stumbled numbly towards the place she'd said she would meet Eragon and Saphira, coughing as the smoke entered her lungs. Her right foot pained her every time she placed it on the ground, making her realise she was injured but serious or not she had no time to find out. Running through the clouds of ash and smoke she could see nothing until they were right in front of her and each time a tree leapt out from the darkness she leapt into the air, convinced it was her enemies finally caught up with her.
She was just running a little faster when the fog cleared and she cried out with relief. Without stopping she speeded up dashing forwards for any sign of the rider and his dragon and so she didn't notice the cliff edge till it was right below her feet. A roar of warning echoed through the forest just as she slipped over the edge, falling for what seemed an eternity she screamed as the wind whistled through her sleek hair. Suddenly something hurtled past her making billowing wind currents that soon dissipated leaving the elf more scared than before. She was left staring up into the sky with one of her arms outstretched, reaching for nothing. The frozen wind whipped her as her slim fingers began to close losing the hope to stay reaching into the clear blue sky, at least, she thought, I'll die with the sky in my eyes instead of at the hands of an enemy. Just at that second when her last hope had all but disappeared a huge blue shape hurtled down beside her, buffeting her with its huge wings. 'A dragon,' she whispered her eyes blurred and unfocussed, 'a real live dragon.' A black human shape leaned over from the dragons' side and with one swift movement caught the falling elf's arm. She gasped as the strong fingers encircled her wrist and with a sudden stop she hit the dragons side, feeling the hard blue scales warming her from the freezing wind. Her vision cleared and she gazed into her rescuers determined brown eyes, taking in his jet-black hair and pale face. He looked somehow human but more delicate than any human she had ever met and his ears were tapered, but less tapered than hers. He looked like a mix of the two races she concluded, while finding herself once more drawn to his beautiful eyes. She's so beautiful, Eragon thought, looking into her green eyes which still held her fear. Staring at her blonde hair which now fell straight down her back except for one lock that had twisted itself on front of her face. Their gazes once more locked and they stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity, the elf's' deep green eyes filling slowly once more with tears. This seemed to awake Eragon and he gently reached down and grasped her other hand, slowly pulling her up Saphira and into his awaiting arms. She let out her pent-up breath as a sob curled its way from her mouth releasing it into the air. She sobbed again and the tears this time just wouldn't stop, at first Eragon stiffened when he heard her tears but then remembered all she had been through. He carefully let her rest her head onto his shoulder and cupped her in his comforting arms, holding her like he'd never let her go. She cried herself dry, sobbing for the deaths of her friends which she had caused, sobbing for the pain in her foot, sobbing with relief for the rider catching her and last of all, crying for the fact that she, Sofia, was totally alone in a world of strangers and pain that she did not understand.