By the time they arrived at Ellesmera Sofia was fast asleep in Eragon's arms. Eragon had found this at little overwhelming at first but then concluded that she was simply exhausted and let her be. Saphira gently glided over to a patch of trees slightly greener and taller than the rest and gracefully alighted onto the ground. As soon as they had landed Islanzadi, queen of the elves, cried out with triumph 'you found her, my precious dragon and rider! You found her!' Eragon looked bemused as Islanzadi beamed up at them, he placed his fingers upon his lips and intoned 'astra esterni ono varda'. Quickly Islanzadi toned down her smile and replied gracefully 'mor'ranr lifa unin hjarta onr.'
'And may the stars watch over you' he finished bowing his head. With a jolt he saw Arya waiting by the queen's side, she was smiling softly as if enjoying a private joke, her long raven hair glinting in the sunlight. 'We have waited avidly for your return, Eragon and Saphira, and especially for the return of the one you bring.' Islanzadi looked expectantly at them, her eyes drawn to the young elf slumbering in Eragon's arms. Arya raised an eyebrow and Eragon blushed, quickly shaking the elf awake. Maybe she can take their attention away from us, he thought to Saphira.
Yes, it does get a little tiring to have them staring at us all the time, Saphira replied a trickle of smoke coiling out from her nostrils. Remember to tell them she is hurt, she probably needs a healer as we don't know what spell she was hit with when she fell down.
Yes that's true. Eragon replied and was soon telling Islanzadi of the young elf's injuries. 'Of course,' Islanzadi stated nodding her head 'we will send for one at once. First I wish to speak with her.' Eragon complied by once more shaking the elf and this time she opened her eyes and yawned. 'Where are we?' she asked Eragon sleepily. 'You are in the land of Ellesmera,' replied Islanzadi, making the elf jump and twist round in her seat. 'Oh,' she said in a small voice overwhelmed by the fact that she had been asleep and unaware of the huge procession that had crowded around her. Saphira, feeling sorry for the young elf, snorted and called out to Islanzadi saying perhaps you could talk somewhere more private, she's exhausted and you've just awoken her to the sight of hundreds of elves all staring avidly at her. She is only young, elf queen, remember that.
You're right of course Skulblaka, I am acting foolishly. Islanzadi straightened up and called out in her vibrant voice 'I shall call on you after I have discussed pressing matters with Eragon, Saphira and the golden elf. Arya you shall stay too. Now be gone!' With that the elves all bowed as one and left without a word. They all knew not to disobey their queen and they also knew she would tell them all she deemed necessary later on.
Eragon smiled gently down at the elf and whispered 'I hope you don't mind Saphira getting rid of the crowd.'
'Mind?' She whispered back, 'tell Saphira she can do it whenever she wants.' I'll hold you to that, a voice echoed in her mind.
Greetings Saphira, it is an honour to meet such a dragon. I can not wait to get to know you and your rider as it seems you're the only ones here who'll will speak of the truth.
What do you mean? AskedEragon confused.
It does not matter, you both simply have an aura about you that will not let you lie or bend the truth to me.
You can see our aura? Saphira questioned incredulously.
Yes, it is a gift all royal golden elves have or had at least. She answered and then lapsed into a painful silence. Eragon dismounted from Saphira and raised a hand to help down the elf, but to his surprise she gracefully leapt down beside him. Smiling at his expression the elf turned to Islanzadi and Arya, 'it is an honour to meet you both again, my parents knew you of old and always held you in highest regard.' She began to bow but Arya lifted a hand to her chin and stated, 'you need not bow to us, Sofia Mae, you are our equals in every right.' Islanzadi smiled benevolently and nodded her head, 'my daughter is correct, Sofia, you need not bow to us.' Then she placed her hand onto Sofia's, saying 'your parents were great elves and were sourly missed when we heard the news. Did all of Suyance fall?'
Sofia nodded, her eyes downcast as she swallowed hard to prepare her next words. 'I am the last of my race,' she began, holding her head high, 'my people all fell in the battle of Suyance. Only I survived. My mother had had a premonition of what was coming, but by then it was too late to save her people so she readied them for battle. Using the last of their energy my mother and father transported me to the outskirts of Du Wendarvirlan, knowing there I would be safe. I was only of 15 summers then and had the appearance of a four year old to other humans, and so a nearby village took me in after hunters found me unconscious at the roots of a giant oak tree. I pretended I couldn't remember anything of my people or life before so I would be safe and so the village would be safe. If Galbatorix knew where I was…' she shuddered and wrapped her arms around herself as if it had suddenly gone cold, her eyes were glazed and she stared into the distance but saw only the past that haunted her dreams. 'He was there, you know. He came to destroy us. I don't know how he knew where we were, I can only imagine it was by chance that he found us. He landed with that terrible black dragon of his, Shruikan, and laughed. Then he raised his hand and my people just fell in agony to the floor, all except my family and a few of the strongest warriors. If he hadn't of arrived we wouldn't have fallen and her knew that. He dismounted and began to walk over to my family and so my parents turned to me and both caught my hands. They smiled and began to chant something and before I knew what was happening I felt myself grow lighter and slowly I began to fade into the distance. Galbatorix realised what was happening and screamed out a spell but it was too late, I was gone. So terrible was his rage that before I went out of his reach completely he used a spell to make me see everything he did to my family. So I lay beside a tree and witnessed him torture them, watched as he drew out their blood and laughed, oh his laugh! I will never forget that pure sound of evil framed by the screams of my dying people. When he had finished he looked somehow straight into my eyes and said 'if they hadn't saved you they would still have had enough magic to be alive now. It's your fault they're dead.'' She shook her head and let out a bittersweet laugh just as a crystal tear fell down her cheek. 'I will kill him for doing that. But first I will have him tortured, I will rip out his still beating heart and condemn him to an endless death of pain and suffering. My people shall be avenged, I swear this on the blood that runs in through my veins. He shall pay that price that comes with the death of my people and he shall beg for mercy. Mercy that will not come.' She shuddered once more and grew silent staring at the ground as the tears came thick and fast. 'My poor child,' Islanzadi whispered, 'my poor poor child.' He own eyes filled with tears as she embraced the elf clinging onto her like she would never let her go. 'Come with me and we shall go see the healer together, then you can rest and I will watch over you. Do not worry my child, for you are home.' With the Islanzadi gently lead the pain filled elf away from a shocked Eragon, Saphira and Arya, lending her strength when the elf's failed.
A silence filled the area where the elf had stood, which was only broken when Arya said 'I knew her of old, we used to walk together and just talk about anything and everything when her parents came to visit mine. She was such a vivacious girl, always smiling at everything and everyone. Then when my father died in battle my mother was prostrate with grief and blind to the world. She didn't listen to her council till it was to late and Suyance had fallen along with all its people, or so we thought. We mourned them and searched the area they had inhabited but not for long as the place was surrounded by Galbatorix's spies and it was too dangerous to continue. Poor Sofia she obviously tried her best to cope and did a better job than I could've with it. I would have broken down ages ago.'
'Aye,' Eragon agreed, his thoughts turned towards Sofia and his sympathies to. 'If I didn't have any reason to fight Galbatorix then I would now. What he did…!' He cried out then shook his head, unable to continue. She is a strong elf, that we all know, but will she ever recover from this? Saphira asked sending her thoughts to Eragon and Arya. 'I don't know,' Arya answered, shaking her head, ' but my mother and the other elves will try to help her in every way possible. It might just be enough.' They stood in silence for a while, each lost in their own thoughts. 'We better be going,' Eragon said at last and sighed reluctantly. 'You're right,' Arya agreed with a soft smile, 'I'd better tell the elves something they will be getting impatient, then I will take over my mothers duties for a while. I have a feeling she'll be busy with other more important things. Good day Eragon, Saphira, you should both get some rest.' With that she bowed, turned away and melted into the trees. Eragon once more climbed onto Saphira and they flew high above the trees trying in vain to leave their thoughts on the ground. They soon landed and after a preoccupied conversation with a passing elf, entered their treetop home. At last, Eragon sighed to Saphira, we can relax.
Or at least try to, Saphira added. Goodnight little one.
Goodnight Saphira. And just as the sun sank low behind the trees a beautiful voice drifted up to their room, softly singing them to sleep.
Authors notes
yes i know, kinda cheesy. i'm sorry i couldn't think of a better ending! thanks for the reviews i've been getting, you guys are great!
Disclaimer: i don't own Christopher paolini's characters or the settings blahblahblah