A chilly wind swept through the land of Alagaësia and the sun was blocked from view by dark grey clouds. Winter had fast approached and Eragon and Murtagh had their cloaks wrapped tightly around themselves to keep from freezing as they rode their horses. They were heading toward the Vardan and had been for a little over a week but getting there was proving to be a bit of a challenge. So far they had been attacked by Urgals, Murtagh had been shot and poisoned, and now everything was beginning to freeze. Both boys had red faces and their hands were getting stiff from the rapidly dropping temperatures.
"As if this journey couldn't get any harder, now winter itself is against us." Murtagh said as a sharp gust of wind caught them in the face. Eragon shivered in agreement.
'I don't know what you two are complaining about. The weather feels wonderful.' Saphira said as she swooped through the air happily.
'Us humans aren't as invigorated by the freezing cold as you are.' Eragon said grumpily.
The humans leaned in close to their horses as they rode so they could share heat and around noon the pair came to a river that had a small rickety bridge across it that was only wide enough for humans. The river was not terribly deep but it was swift and cold.
"Do we have no luck at all?" Eragon asked in exasperation. Murtagh smiled.
"I'll go across and call Tornac from the other side. Tie Snowfire to him and he will lead him as well, and then you can come over."
"Sounds like a plan." Eragon agreed. Murtagh crossed the rope bridge slowly then called the horses who crossed the water with great splashes. He tethered the horses to a tree as Eragon crossed. Murtagh turned around quickly as he heard a crack. He turned just in time to see Eragon's eyes widen and hear him gasp as the young Rider fell into the cold water.
"Eragon!" Murtagh called, as he followed the rapid current as fast as he could. Eragon fought to stay above the water and to get to the shore but it was proving to be a losing battle. The current was very strong but it was the temperature that sapped his strength. The cold water felt like thousands of pins pricking him and his chest felt restricted, making it very hard to keep air in his lungs.
Murtagh was running along the shore, frantically trying to figure out how to get Eragon out without getting them both killed. Eragon was having more trouble staying afloat and he knew he had swallowed too much water. Suddenly he became light headed and everything became very surreal. His eyes rolled into the back of his head and he passed out.
Murtagh caught a glimpse of Eragon floating face down and knew he could wait no longer. Without a second thought he leapt into the water. It didn't take long to get to Eragon and turn him right side up but the true battle was in getting back. Murtagh fought hard, kicking furiously but only being able to use one arm to paddle. The water was freezing but Murtagh had expected it and steeled himself against it. After what seemed like forever Murtagh made it to the bank of the river and hauled Eragon onto dry land before climbing out himself.
The older boy quickly checked Eragon's vitals and was relieved to find a pulse but panicked to see that the boy wasn't breathing. Murtagh instantly began pumping on Eragon's chest trying to make the boy breath and a full minute later he was rewarded when Eragon sat up and coughed the water out of his lungs. Murtagh quickly wrapped Eragon in an impromptu hug so he could warm the boy. Eragon's teeth were chattering and he was very pale.
Saphira, who had been flying in circles and roaring with worry, landing with a thud next to the pair, taking out a few saplings as she did so.
'Little one! Are you alright?' She asked, nuzzling Eragon affectionately. Eragon looked at her but was unable to say anything.
"I think he's in shock Saphira." Murtagh said between shivers. Saphira studied them both for a moment then said,
'Get on, both of you. I need to get you two back to the horses.' Murtagh and Eragon obeyed and Saphira took them to where they had left the animals tethered to the trees. The boys quickly made camp not far from the river and Murtagh started a fire. Saphira settled close to the fire and Eragon lay close to her with Murtagh lying opposite them and as close to the flames as he could safely get. Both humans were wrapped in blankets and still shivering.
"Th Thank you, Mur Murtagh. F for saving me. Again." Murtagh smirked.
"Don't mention it. Just don't do it again." Murtagh didn't say it out loud but he had been very worried about Eragon today. He had come to think of Eragon as a little brother as well as a friend.
'Yes. You scared me half to death. Don't do that again or ever Murtagh will not be able to save you.' Both boys laughed. Saphira had been allowing both boys to hear her thought and she only closed the bond when she needed to talk to Eragon privately. It made more sense than having Eragon translate all the time.
"Well I'm going to sleep and hopefully we will have a less eventful day tomorrow." Murtagh said settling in for the night. Eragon did the same, still lying close to Saphira.
"Night Murtagh."
"Good night Rider."
'Sleep well young ones.' And with that they all went to sleep.
"Achoo!" Was what every one woke up to the next morning. Murtagh sat up and reached for his dagger and Saphira growled viciously as they waited for the unseen enemy.
"Sorry." Eragon said, sniffling. Murtagh blinked and looked at Eragon.
"You're sick aren't you?" He asked. Eragon shook his head.
"I never get sick. I don't remember if I ever got sick when I was in Carvahall."
"Did you ever fall into a freezing river in Carvahall?"
"Well…no." Saphira put her head down and studied Eragon with one large eye. After a moment of inspection she raised her head and said,
'He's sick.' Eragon glared at her.
"Well I'm afraid there isn't much we can do about it out here. We'll just have to make sure it doesn't get any worse."
'There are some plants in your packs you should mash up and put on your chest. It will make you feel better.' Eragon did just that and then they continued their journey.
Murtagh and Saphira kept a close eye on Eragon through out the day and the boy had developed a nasty cough. The chilly wind was doing neither human any good and it wasn't long before they decided to stop for the night. Eragon was now sniffling and he had mentioned that he had a headache. Saphira, like a mother hen, had him put more herbs on his chest then had him sprinkle some into boiling water for him and Murtagh to drink to prevent further illness.
When they went to sleep that night, none of them had predicted their eventful awakening. Even while sleeping Saphira's senses were impeccable. Her large head swung of the ground and she began sniffing the air.
'Boys! Urgals are near.' Murtagh was up instantly but Eragon was groggier. He felt terrible and his head was cloudy.
"Where are they Saphira?" Murtagh asked, his hand on the hilt of his sword.
'They are widely scattered in the woods. Like they're searching for something.'
"Or someone. I bet it's the same troop that attacked us last week." Eragon said
"If they are searching for us than riding horseback would be to loud."
"You think we should let the horses go?" Eragon asked incredulously.
"As much as it pains me, yes. Besides, they found their way back to us once."
"Alright. We'll let them go in one direction and we'll go in the other." Eragon said as he stood. They quickly put as much stuff as they could in their packs then put the rest on the horses and send them away.
"Saphira, fly high and try not to be seen." Then Eragon made the bond private and said, 'Be careful.'
'You be careful.' And she took off.
Murtagh and Eragon left in the opposite direction of the horses and moved as quietly as possible. With both of them being hunters it wasn't too hard to move stealthily but Eragon's cough was presenting a problem. He tried hard to keep them in but his chest hurt terribly and coughs were escaping anyway. They went on like that for a few hours until they decided to stop for a water break.
Eragon gulped it down greedily while Murtagh took slow sips. It didn't escape the older boys attention how pale Eragon was becoming. A twig snapped in the distance and both boys stopped what they were doing. The Urgals were approaching.
"Call Saphira. At least you can get out of here." Eragon muffled a cough and said,
"Haven't you learned that we're in this together?"
"It might be for not. There are too many of them. We can't win this fight." They could here the footsteps of the Urgals now. Eragon looked around desperately and spotted some underbrush.
"We need to hide." He said, heading for the brush and disappearing under it. Murtagh looked at Eragon, the glanced in the direction of the Urgals and sighed. He crawled under the brush where Eragon had hid. The two boys lay head to head as they listened to the Urgals passing.
They held their breath in anticipation and anxiety. The thundering sound of ironclad boots and the stale smell of an army did nothing for their nerves. It seemed like hours passed before the noise dissipated and the boys decided it was safe to come out. Cautiously they stood up and looked in the direction that their enemy had left in as they let out a sigh of relief.
Suddenly a war cry echoed through the hills coming from behind them. Two Urgals had been bringing up the rear and they had spotted Eragon and Murtagh who quickly drew their swords and disposed of the two. However, it was too late. The entire troop had heard and turned around to come back.
"Run!" Murtagh shouted. He and Eragon took off sprinting as the huge army chased them. They had had a good head start and were managing to stay a few yards ahead. Eragon was lagging slightly behind and was having to use all his will power to keep moving. His chest was tight and his head was pounding to the point were all he could hear was his own breathing. Finally he couldn't hold it in any longer and he stopped as coughs racked his body.
Murtagh heard the noise and turned around to see that Eragon had stopped and the Urgals were approaching fast. He ran back and wrapped an arm around Eragon's back, half helping and half dragging the younger boy along. They trudged on like this for another few feet until another stroke of bad luck befell them and Eragon tripped on a rock. He fell which caused Murtagh to fall as well. The older boy managed to draw his sword and get in font of the sick Eragon before the Urgals were upon them.
Murtagh didn't even have a chance to stand up as the Urgals attacked. He struggled to get to his feet but the Urgals kept him down. Eragon was aware of the fact that Murtagh was fighting alone while he lay there. He struggled to clear his head and stand up but another coughing fit overtook him. Murtagh fought all the harder when he heard Eragon's violent coughs.
Suddenly an Urgal knocked Murtagh's sword from his hand, leaving the young man defenseless. The only thing for him to do was stay firmly in front of Eragon and wait for the inevitable. The lead Urgal raised his sword and Murtagh's eyes glittered with defiance. The sword never met its mark because the Urgal was crushed under a mighty blue dragon that landed with a roar.
"Run." Eragon said as he gasped for breath. The two boys took off running as Saphira bit and clawed at the enemy but skillfully avoided injury herself. Meanwhile the boys had made it a good distance away and they came bursting out of the forest…right onto the ledge of a large cliff.
"What do we do now?" Murtagh asked between desperation and annoyance.
"Jump!" Eragon said after a moments pause.
"Are you…" Murtagh never got a chance to finish his sentence as Eragon pulled him over the cliff. The sensation of falling was terrifying and exhilarating all at once. For a brief moment Murtagh wondered if this is what Eragon felt like when he flew with Saphira. But then the only thought that consumed his mind was the rapidly approaching ground.
Suddenly, however, both boys were brought to a violent, though nonfatal, stop. Saphira had them clutched in her talons and Murtagh let out a big sigh of relief. The dragon swooped away from the canyon and took the boys to where she knew the horses had stopped. She dropped them unceremoniously on the ground next to the animals.
'Can I not leave you two alone for a second?! Do you go looking for trouble or are you just too dense to keep out of it?' It was clear from the smoke coming out of Saphira's nose that she was angry. She stomped around the clearing a little and yelled some more but then calmed down.
'Are you two alright?' She finally asked. Both boys nodded.
"Thank you for saving us Saphira." Eragon said
"Yes thank you. I don't know what we would do without you." Murtagh added sincerely, knowing how much Saphira loved flattery.
'You'd die.' She answered wryly and it was clear she was no longed angry.
"Well I suppose I should thank you yet again for saving me." Eragon said to Murtagh who laughed and replied,
"It's become a habit. But the next time we have to make a dramatic escape can we do it without having to jump off a cliff?" Now Eragon laughed.
"Lets hope we don't have to escape from anything from now on."
'Why don't I see that happening?' Saphira said as she took to the sky. The humans mounted their horses and set off once again for the Vardan hoping that now they could make it there without any more disastrous adventures along the way. But they doubted it too.
A/N Hi guys! So sorry this took so long. I'm not particularly pleased with this chap but it will do. The next one will be set during book two but I don't know when I will get it up. A bunny bit me for another story and ya'll know how that is. I'll update as soon as I can and Please review!! Thanks!