Ch. 2 Shur'tugal
Arya shifted in her seat, every bone in her body aching from an invisible source of pain. She knew that, somehow, she was about to die. The man that she had encountered was obviously much stronger than even her, one of the strongest elves, alive. Arya puzzled over this as to how this being managed to become so powerful.
"Eka weohnata néiat haina ono," a voice, gruff and depressed, growled.
Well, he said that he will not harm me in the Ancient Language... Arya still wasn't convinced.
"Vel eïnradhin iet ai Shur'tugal, eka weohnata néiat haina ono," the man repeaded. Arya sat up as quickly as she could.
"You're... you're a shur'tugal?" Arya blinked over and over again, trying to see if she recognised the man hovering above her. The man smiled at her.
"Maybe I am, maybe I'm not," the man laughed.
"But... but you just said..." Arya whiserpered, confused.
"I was joking on the last one, can't you tell what a joke is? Yes, I am a Rider, my Dragon and I have been living in the Northern Forest for longer than we remember. But my guess is about ten years," the Rider smirked.
"Do I know you?" Arya asked softly.
"Vinr Älfakyn," the man shook his head sadly, "you do not recognize me. That does not hurt, though- I barely recognize you."
"Who are you?" Arya demanded.
"I am Eragon," the man- Eragon- said sadly.
Arya stared at him in disbelief, "Liar!" she cried.
Eragon sighed, "Eka aí Eragon!"
"You said it in the Ancient Language… if you are Eragon, then where is Saphira?" Arya demanded.
Eragon smiled, and then Saphira rushed into the cave.
She is awake! Hello, Arya! Saphira laughed. Arya's heart pounded like mad as she sat up.
"You are alive!" Arya cried, jumping up from her bed of leaves.
"Please, relax. Wiol pömnuria ilian," Eragon laughed.
"Fine, I will. But… why did you leave? Why didn't you come back? I came back from my mission with the green egg, and you had disappeared! After five years we all thought you dead, why…???" Arya cried.
"That's not relaxing," Eragon rolled his eyes.
"Please answer my questions, Argetlam," Arya cried.
"Fine. Both Saphira and I will in time. However, I need you to rest. I can not have you dying," Eragon laughed, "You know that you should."
"Die? Or rest?" Arya sighed.
"Rest. Now sleep," Eragon hesitantly placed his hand on Arya's forehead.
Arya did not argue or yell at him, but did fall asleep.
EEE
The next morning Arya woke up to Eragon and Saphira eating a breakfast of plants from outside. They were laughing together about something, and guarding the green egg.
"Eragon?" Arya woke up, tired beyond belief.
"Arya!" Eragon rushed to her side, causing Saphira to snort.
You seemed so hesitant about keeping her, Saphira laughed.
Well… I have not seen her in a while, Eragon murmured as he reached Arya.
"How are you feeling, Arya?" Eragon asked softly.
"I am feeling well, thank you, Eragon," Arya sighed, "and I would like my questions answered, please. Oh, and I'm adding another. Was it you who attacked me in the forest?" Arya stared intently at Eragon.
Eragon sighed, "I will answer all of your questions, Arya. But in time- I have no time o answer them now, you understand," Eragon looked intently at Arya.
"Yes, but please answer my last one first," Arya looked pleadingly at Eragon.
"Yes, I did attack you. But I had no idea who you were. Saphira and I have taken to living on our own," Eragon sighed, "and we try to keep it that way."
"Then why didn't you kill me on the spot?" Arya sighed.
"Because we want to make sure that we don't kill unnecessarily. Mostly we just let them go, erase their memory," Eragon shrugged.
Arya nodded, as if this made sense.
"So why didn't you do that with me?" Arya asked suspiciously.
Eragon sighed, "There are many reasons. Most I can not explain to you yet. But I can explain one: you needed our help. And as for the rest of the reasons- you will learn them in time, do not worry," Eragon nodded, "Now Saphira and I must go out and get food. Please wait here," Eragon left then, jumping onto Saphira's back and soaring out to the sky.
Arya watched them go with confusion in her eyes.
EEE
Saphira and Eragon soared over the sky, whooping as they did. Saphira turned about in the air, performing complicated aerial maneuvers that she learned on her own out in the wild.
When do you think we should tell her what we have learned? Saphira asked as she corkscrewed through the air.
I do not know, Saphira. Being able to know the future… no matter how vague… is a dangerous art. Arya does not need to know that we know, Eragon sighed. They continued flying about in the air, pondering what to do about Arya.
Living on their own, learning all they could and experimenting with magic so much changed Saphira and Eragon. They knew how to do things that were considered unnatural, most likely. And now their little coven had been breached by two beings.
Eragon finally sighed to himself. He knew that they couldn't let Arya go now, because she would return with a whole army if need be to get Eragon and Saphira to return. Not to mention the fact that if they let her go, she would most likely be one of the dead.
You see, one of the powers that Eragon and Saphira learned was seeing the future. They only needed to ask a question while scrying instead of thinking of a person, place or thing. And they had discovered that Galbatorix and all the races would have a final showdown to end the war, and that this would occur sometime soon. The only survivors would be ten humans- five girls and five boys-, ten elves-five and five-, ten dwarves- five and five-, and ten dragons-five and five. And then there would be two hominid creatures that resembled elves and two more dragons that would come to lead them all. So, in short, if Eragon let Arya leave she would most certainly die.
Saphira swooped down into the forest, carrying her food while Eragon carried food for Arya and him.
So, Saphira- how do you think Arya would take learning that she is our prisoner? Eragon laughed.
Not well, Saphira agreed, and they landed.