Chapter 6: Finishing the Gift
Saphira roared in fear and rushed over to her rider's side, nudging him violently with her nose. Eragon still was not breathing and his faint blue color has gotten into a deeper shade. Angela stood back in silence with her hand over her mouth.
"What did I do?" she asked, shocked. Saphira suddenly turned her hurtful gaze from Eragon to Angela.
What did you do? She roared in her mind. Don't stand there like a tree! Help him.
I can't, Angela said. He has to wake on his own, or else the spell will not work.
I do not care about the spell! Saphira screamed. He is dying! Help! Angela dropped her hand from her mouth and walked over to her cautiously.
If I wake him, the spell will be reversed, Angela said calmly. I do not wish to do so.
You would rather have him die? Saphira roared in both her mind and out loud. I will tear you to shreds before he dies! I will not lose him like this!
Peace Saphira, Angela said, now crouching beside Eragon. He was a dark blue-almost black color, but he was breathing now. It was shallow as if he was in a deep sleep, but it was breath nontheless. He has passed the hard part of the spell. His coloration began growing darker until his skin was jet black. Remember the color of your rider before you now. Saphira lowered her head on top of her rider's chest as if she was listening to his faint heartbeat.
Why is he like this? Saphira asked, still resting her head on Eragon's chest.
It is a part of the spell, Angela told her. His spirit has been altered as well. When he wakes I will explain further…?
You will explain now, Saphira snarled, barring her teeth. Angela placed her hands to her temples and massaged them.
"This spell is meant to alter your appearances," she said out loud. "The spirits inside of you two needed to be broken and reformed to do so. It is easier to rearrange your spirit to that of a human's because they would be smaller than you. Eragon has the hardest part of building his spirit up instead of taking it down. He must have a lot of heart to still hold on."
I don't understand, Saphira said to her. Why do I have a human spirit?
"No," Angela said. "You still have a dragon's spirit, it has just rearranged slightly. Nothing else will be different between you two except your physical structure…?"
What do you mean? Saphira asked, raising her head off of Eragon.
"I have found a spell to…shape shift you and your rider, but it is only half way done. There is still one final task to complete."
You mean to tell me that…we will be…?
The same species, Angela finished. You and he can choose to be either dragon or human.
Will our decision stick with us throughout our lives? Saphira asked. For instance: If he chooses to be my species, would he remain so forever?
Nay, Angela replied. I am going to give you both the spell to change, but there is something I must tell you after he wakes.
I understand now, Saphira said, turning to face her unconscious rider. This was a thoughtful gift, Angela. I am at a loss for words at what you have done for us. Thank you.
Angela paled slightly and wiped her brow.
"It has taken a lot of my energy," Angela replied. Solembum walked over to her and placed his hand on her back.
"You need to rest," he said to her, guiding her away from Saphira and Eragon.
I will stay with him until he wakes, Saphira said, placing her head on Eragon again. Will you be here tomorrow?
I will come to check on you two early in the morning, Angela replied, walking away with Solembum. Saphira closed her eyes and struggled to find sleep. So much was in her mind. How did Angela manage to do this? What is the future going to be like after this spell is completed? How would Eragon look being a dragon? Saphira lifted her head from Eragon and shook it, knocking the thoughts from her away. She then lowered her head next to Eragon's and licked his cheek gently, before settling down on his chest for the night.
Saphira woke first when the rays from the rising sun began poking through her eyelids. She slowly opened her sapphire eyes and let out a small yawn. She turned her eyes down towards Eragon to see that his natural color returned to him and he was smiling in his sleep.
Little one? Saphira asked, leaning over to lick his forehead. Are you awake?
"Just three more minutes," Eragon groaned, rolling over to his right side and away from Saphira. Suddenly, he opened his eyes and turned over to face her.
"How did we end up here?" he asked out loud. Saphira cocked her head at him and let out a small plume of smoke.
You do not remember? She asked. Angela gave us the gift last night.
I only remember drinking something, Eragon said, now standing up. What did it do?
It is difficult to explain, Saphira sighed. Angela is coming soon to explain further. You scared me last night.
I didn't mean to, Eragon said. Saphira inched her neck forward so he could rub her forehead. I had a strange dream though.
Care to tell me? Saphira asked. Eragon smiled and took his hand off of her brow.
I dreamt that I was a dragon, he explained. I was as black as the ground after a wildfire, and the tips of my scales were as white as powdered snow. I remember flying up high with another dragon...?
What color was it? Saphira asked, intrigued by his dream. Eragon smiled wider and reached his hand out to rub her neck.
I think it was you, he replied. It was a light blue, sapphire color with polished white spikes and claws. He dropped his smile. I wonder what that means.
Perhaps the spell had something to do with it, Saphira said, humming. There was a light crack in the forest around them. She is here.
"How are you this morning, Shadeslayer?" Angela asked.
"I'm well," he replied. "What happened?"
"As I told Saphira last night," Angela stated. "The spell I gave you altered your spirits. Saphira's has been broken down slightly to resemble a human's, and yours has been built up to resemble a dragon's."
"I don't understand," Eragon replied. Saphira clicked into his mind.
She has given us a potion to change our outward appearance, she explained. In other words, I can change human and you can change into a dragon.
Will our decisions stay with us? Eragon asked. Saphira shook her head.
She told me that it wouldn't, Saphira replied. However, there is something she wishes to explain. Saphira broke contact with him and turned toward Angela.
"The first part of the spell was a success," Angela mentioned, clasping her hands. "Now for the final task. Now I need both of your attention for this."
"You have it," Eragon exclaimed, taking a seat on the ground next to Saphira.
"Good," Angela replied. "There is a certain word that will shift you into the form you desire. It is rather strange and is new in the ancient language so you both need to listen carefully. The word to change is 'Honia'. It is short, I know, but I have spent a long time in creating this spell. I know not of how you will appear after the incantation is completed, so before I leave you, I want to test this."
"A wise idea," Eragon said, partly shocked at what has happened to him and Saphira. "I'll go first." Eragon got to his feet and centered his energy as he prepared to say the word.
"Honia!" he said. Suddenly, he fell to the floor on all fours, cringing and gritting his teeth. His skin began to change into the black color he was last night and his fingers began to stretch to form polished white claws at their ends. The clothes he wore began to tear as his body began expanding. His skin turned shinny and his flesh had transformed to black scales with hints of white on the tips of them. Eragon's mouth began to stretch along with his teeth, creating a snout. From his back, he sprouted two large wings that shot up and draped over himself. Within moments, Eragon was shaped into a fine black dragon slightly larger than Saphira. She ran up to him quickly and nuzzled his head with hers.
You are a beautiful dragon, Saphira said in amazement, as she walked around him and investigated his wings, claws, and overall form. She growled happily. You are just like the dragon in your dreams. Eragon turned his massive head to inspect himself. The spikes that rested along his back were as white as fresh snow and the scales along his hide were as black as the scorched ground after a fire, except for the faint white on the tips of them. He hummed, not even sure how he did so.
Now it is your turn, he told her. It feels strange, but it doesn't hurt.
I have never used magic before, Saphira stated worriedly. I'm not so sure if I can do it, but I will try. She lifted her head and closed her eyes. Honia!
Eragon lay on his paws and watched as Saphira stood on her hind legs and began to shrink. Her head condensed, forming her large muzzle into a mere mouth, and her wings disappeared into her back. Her paws began to form into hands and feet and the claws on them changed into nails. The spikes and horns also disappeared into her body and her scales turned into flesh. Soon, Saphira was standing, clothed in a blue tunic in human form just smaller than the human version of Eragon, with long blonde hair and a petite form. She looked as if she were only nineteen, but her sapphire eyes showed wisdom above her years.
Absolutely stunning, Eragon exclaimed. He snaked his head around her and drew his attention to her ears, which were pointed like an elf's.
It can't be, Eragon thought to her. Saphira, you are an elf! Saphira placed her hands at a distance in front of her eyes so she could look at herself.
"It appears so," she said. Her voice barely changed, but it sent shivers down Eragon for hearing her actually speak them out loud. "Perhaps we can change roles of rider and dragon now?" Eragon chuckled into her mind and turned to face Angela.
"Now you have to listen carefully to me," Angela said. "If you plan on raising a family, Saphira must stay in that form until the child is born or laid." She turned to face Saphira.
"When you are gravid, you cannot shift into a human until after the egg is laid. Same thing goes for a human child."
I don't know if we will raise a family, Eragon said shyly. He turned his head over to Saphira. Do we?
Explanation for Saphira's change: In the book it talked about the longevity of dragons. If she turned human, she wouldn't live as long as if she were Elvin. I also know that Rider and Dragon are immortal together, but I figured turning her into an elf would be a wiser choice (especially with the battle between elves and dragons in Eldest that was told by Gealdr and Eragon's past love for Arya. Sorry if people don't think that should be it). Reason for Saphira changing and being clothed and Eragon's clothes coming off is because of the flesh issue. Eragon builds up with his clothes, which forces them to tear, but Saphira would shrink down instead of build up. I decided to keep her scales as a tunic when she switches.
PEACE!