Very action/suspense. Be warned…a little gory. Uh there is a spot here that I was not sure of when it comes to reference…let's see who can find it? Also, I will not update for a few days because this is jumping to M because I received a complaint over the issue by a reviewer. One voice can make a difference I suppose. Hope this all makes sense…if any issues are found point it out and I will repost with corrected version. Thanks and enjoy!
Chapter 49: Battlefield before Execution
Trianna stood with her hands bound in front of the Elvin Council. Her dragon had his snout tied as well, with Thorn and Draken guarding beside him. Eragon stood beside Saphira, who was in human form, as they explained the acts that Trianna and Slide had done against them to Nasuada and Islanzadi while Murtagh sat between them.
"She knew," Eragon explained. "Her dragon attempted to ravage my wife and Trianna did nothing to stop it. If it was not for me, Slide would have succeeded."
"Is this true, Trianna?" Nasuada asked with a hash glare. The sorceress did not say a word.
"She also assisted Stave my queen," Eragon continued to explain. The gathering crowd began to converse loudly at this, but Nasuada raised her hand to silence them.
"Wait," Nasuada exclaimed. "He fell to your sword, did he not?"
"Somehow he still lives," Saphira spoke up. "After Arya's death, my husband and I got into a quarrel. I flew away and met him on the outsides of Ellesmera. The man knows the boundaries of your magic, my queen."
"Do you suppose that Stave killed my daughter?" Islanzadi came in with a hint of hope in her voice. Eragon nodded.
"It is very possible," Eragon explained. "He is a rider of old and knows how to heal surface wounds. I told you that her body was bathed in magic when we delivered her to you."
"You did," Islanzadi sighed. "I shall gather my strongest warriors and hunt this man down for such a crime."
"What about the task at hand?" Murtagh asked. "I discovered that Stave had a member inside of Ellesmera. He was the messenger you sent to tell Eragon of Trianna's arrival. Anyways, when I arrived at their home, it was a complete mess. Paper and clothing were scattered about, but the bowls that we built for Eragon's children were not touched. I climbed upstairs to see Draken frozen with the betrayer ready to swing his blade down across the dragon's chest. If I did not have my bow, it would have been a travesty."
"This does not show treason to Trianna," Nasuada said. "I do see that she should be tried for allowing Slide to perform in such a disturbing manner. I must know, Eragon, did Trianna do anything to you?"
"She made a few comments," Eragon said, as he turned to face her. "She disrespected me when we were fighting and told me that 'it would be a good chance to get close.' Is that proper, my queen?"
"No it is not," Nasuada replied wisely. "She is an adulterer and a conspirator. Acts such as these are punishable by death or complete exile." Eragon turned to Saphira and placed his hand over her shoulder.
All will be well dear, he told her through mental link. She turned to him and smiled softly, mouthing "I know" silently so no one except for him could hear. He watched as Islanzadi and Nasuada leaned into Murtagh's ears to whisper something to him. He nodded and stood to his feet.
"The three of us will converse on this matter," Murtagh spoke up. "If Trianna is found guilty, she will be executed while her dragon watches close by. Islanzadi has told me that this has never happened before, but it is the only true form of punishment besides banishing. Take Trianna and Slide back to their holds until we have come to an agreement."
"Very well, " one of the guards said sternly. He grabbed the rope that bound Trianna and began to pull her away while Draken and Thorn escorted Slide.
I am sorry, Trianna, Slide told her through mental link. I am the reason for all of this.
We both are to blame, Trianna replied. We agreed to stab Eragon in the back, and we must suffer the consequences for doing so. Even though I have only known you for a few months, I have come to enjoy the time with you. Slide snorted at her sorrow-filled words.
We must leave with honor, Slide said. I realize that our deaths are disloyal, but we must hold firm. If we are merely banished, I promise to take better care of you.
Thank you, Trianna sent to him. I love you, Slide.
I love you, dear one, Slide replied. With that said between them, they disconnected the link between them and went into their own cells.
- - - - - - - - -
"Get them."
- - - - - - - -
Eragon held Saphira's hand as Murtagh, Islanzadi, and Nasuada climbed back to their seats.
"This was a difficult decision to make," Nasuada said wisely as she stared at Trianna before them. "We find you guilty of treason, betrayal, and adultery. All counts are major and can be punished by two ways. The first way would be banishment to Shark Tooth Island." She turned to Murtagh and smiled faintly. "We have already learned that dragon's can fly despite the orders given to them, so that leaves the second solution: execution by means of hanging. The council has decided." The court drew silent as Nasuada took in a breath.
"We sentence you to death, Trianna," she spoke clearly. "If you are banished, there is a possibility that Stave could reach you. We would rather kill the rider and dragon than have them fight as our enemy." The crowd erupted into cheers as the guards took Slide and Trianna away. "May the god's have mercy on your evil souls!" Eragon reached over and embraced Saphira.
"Justice is served," he whispered to her. She kissed the side of his neck.
"I am glad," she replied. "I will be happier when the sentence is carried out." Suddenly, Eragon turned away and followed the guard who held Trianna.
- - - - - - - - -
"You have ten minutes to spend with Slide," the guard told Trianna, who was sobbing slightly. "After that, you will return to your cell. Your execution will be tonight before sunset." Before Trianna could ask any questions, the guard slammed the steel door with a loud crash before walking away.
This is it, Trianna told Slide. What have we done?
I do not want to see you die, Slide cried. This is madness! They cannot hold me from you! Was it not you who told me to die with dignity? Trianna asked. Slide shook his head violently.
Call in the guard, Slide said. I would rather die than you. I deserve it!
And I do not? Trianna asked. We were in it together, friend. This is our punishment. Trianna sulked over to Slide, who was sitting in the dark corner of the cell with his emerald color tail flicking around vigerously.
Why must my rider suffer for my mistake? Slide asked. Trianna shook her head.
"Hush now," she told her gently. "I believe that they have forgotten something."
What is that?
"I am a spellcaster," Trianna replied with a soft smirk. "Perhaps we can break free and fly to safety." Trianna looked at the far wall and held her marked palm up.
"Thryst…?"
"Don't even think about it," Eragon's voice said from behind the steel door. "Thorn and Draken are outside of the walls. If you break through, you are better off waiting for the gallows."
"So you have not forgotten about my abilities?" Trianna asked, as she approached the door. "I truly am sorry…?"
"Spare me your lies, slattern!" Eragon hissed. "We will be in the front row to your execution. I want me and Saphira to be the last thing that you see."
"You are cruel!" Trianna shouted. "What happened to the loving rider I once knew?"
"You never knew me!" Eragon shouted back.
"Where will my death take place?" Trianna asked boldly. Eragon smiled.
"You are to be hung between Oslison and Ceunon," he explained coldly.
"Is that not the border of Ellesmera?" Trianna asked. Eragon nodded his head.
"We want all to know what happens to traitors," he spat. "Your time with your dragon is up. A guard is on his way to move you to your own cell. Do not rest, slattern. In a few hours, you will be resting for eternity." With that said, Eragon turned and walked out.
- - - - - - -
"Did you catch her?" Saphira asked intently. Eragon smiled and placed his hand to her cheek.
"Yes, darling," Eragon replied. "All is ready for tonight. I hate seeing life extinguished, but this has to be an exception."
"Argetlam," an Elvin guard said loudly. "The gallows are being prepared as we speak. Murtagh jumped up the execution."
"Very well, friend," Eragon said. "Thank you." He watched as the guard turned to head towards the cells, but he quickly stopped him.
"May I see your hands?" Eragon asked politely. "After the intruder we encountered, we cannot be too careful." The guard willingly obeyed and showed both of his unmarked hands.
"It was a wise decision to check," the guard said. "With your permission, may I continue?"
"Of course," Eragon replied, as he took Saphira's hand and led her away. He turned his head to face her while they walked down the hallway to go outside. "I wonder how Murtagh pulled that off," he told her. She shrugged slightly.
"I find it stranger that he is on the high council," she replied. "He is not much older than you, my love."
"He is wiser though," Eragon muttered. "He has experienced enough to earn him that title."
"I agree about that," Saphira chuckled. "Still, you are wiser in my opinion."
"Thank you," Eragon replied, as he slid his hand to her waist and pulled her close to him.
- - - - - - - -
"Time to go, slattern!" the guard shouted through the steel door to Trianna. "Your execution is upon you."
"I thought I had a few more hours," Trianna protested. "You have no right to do this! I am not ready!"
"When will you be ready to lose your life?" the guard mocked. "Forget about your rights, doomed one! Come out and face your judgement!"
"Very well," she sighed. Slide climbed up to his feet as well while the large steel door swung open. The guard walked in with a large green sword in his right hand.
"Step out," he ordered the two. They obeyed and stepped into the hallway, only to come face-to-face with Thorn and Draken. "Slide will move with them while you stay in front of me!" Trianna nodded her head as they began marching forward.
I am so sorry, Trianna, Slide said solemnly. This should have never happened.
Shut up! Thorn suddenly broke into their communication. You had your time to talk.
- - - - - - - - - -
Eragon stood next to Saphira, who was in dragon form, as they stared at the makeshift stage in front of a large oak tree. One of the branches from the tree had a long nylon rope dangling from it. They watched as two elves began making the final preparations for the execution to be a success by testing the drop zone and the lever to activate it. He reached down to his side to grip the hilt of the bronze blade he received in the cliffs and shook his head. He was not going to be unarmed during an event again after the incident at his wedding.
"Something feels odd," Eragon said to Saphira, who was lying on her paws beside him. "I do not know what, but it feels like we are being watched." Saphira lifted her head and gently nodded it.
We are ready if things go wrong, love, Saphira spoke out, bringing her head close so Eragon could rub it with his hand. At least all is well with our home. We checked the guards who were ordered to watch over our daughters. We are safe.
They are, Eragon said, but I feel different for us. Something just doesn't seem to fit. An hour passed by as the small crowd of fifty or so elves began to gather for Trianna's final performance. As Eragon promised, he was sitting in the front row next to his wife. Nasuada walked up onto the stage to silence the crowd.
"Tonight is a cursed evening," she began. "Never in the history of the riders has one been condemned to die by Ellesmera, but these two are the only ones who truly deserve such a fate!" The crowd began to cheer. "Tonight, we end two lives: The life of a slattern, and the precious life of her dragon. Bring the doomed prisoners hither!" Eragon watched as Trianna was led up the stairs and placed in the middle of the stage. Her mouth was covered and her hands were bound. He also noticed that Thorn and Draken had escorted Slide over to the left-hand side of the stage so he could witness her lose her life, before dying on his own.
They placed the nylon rope around the sorceress's neck and tied it firmly behind her while Nasuada began listing the offenses she had committed to deserve such a rash punishment. Just as the executioner was about to pull the lever to send her through, a lone arrow flew through the air and into his forehead. Another arrow was loosed that shot through the nylon rope, knocking Trianna to the ground. Saphira shot up to her paws and searched frantically for the attackers, but no one could be in sight.
"They are in the forest!" Eragon shouted. The guards that were in control of the execution unsheathed their blades and prepared for battle. Eragon unsheathed his blade as well and climbed up onto Saphira.
Draken! Saphira called to her son. Do not let Slide and his rider escape!
What is happening? Draken replied worriedly. Who is attacking? Eragon heard his son's worried thoughts and clicked in.
It may be Stave, he explained. Stay sharp, boy! The arrows ceased and all was quiet for several moments, but all hell was about to break loose.
"Look out!" one of the elves screamed. Eragon turned to see over a hundred men run out from the forest with swords and cleavers in their hands. All of them had a 'S' mark on their right hand…or their forehead.
Eragon! Saphira shouted. He has an army! Eragon jumped off of Saphira and locked blades with one of Stave's soldiers. The man was poorly experienced and fell quickly to Eragon's blade. Saphira joined in as well by swiping her claws around the ranks to knock out dozens of Stave's men with one blow. Eragon pushed forward into the fray, swinging his sword as if it were a small twig. He would slice off a limb from one man and quickly stab another through his chest.
"Brother!" Murtagh suddenly shouted behind him. "Take Saphira and Draken! It is not safe here. They may be after you…?"
"Have I ever backed down from a fight?" Eragon asked, while parrying a blow with his sword. "I will not leave you and the elves to fight alone. There are only a hundred. Can fifty elves and two dragon riders not handle this situation?" He turned to see Murtagh create a gash on a soldier's chest, causing blood to splatter on the ground before he fell to kiss it.
"Perhaps I do not know you well, brother," Murtagh joked. Suddenly, they both heard a familiar roar from the ground. "DRAKEN!"
- - - - - - - - - -
The purple-scaled dragon was surrounded by seven of Stave's soldiers. He was forced to back up, but there was a large tree that stood in his way. Slide was still tied up next to him and he made a promise to his father.
"You will have to get through me to free him!" he roared, snapping his tail furiously. The men glared at him and charged with their swords, but Draken leapt to the air and quickly got out of immediate danger. He touched down behind them and sliced down on two troops with his claws, completely severing one in half. Two down, five to go.
"Any others?" Draken mocked. The men charged again, but Draken simply sidestepped to avoid the tips of their blades. He turned around quickly and brought his tail across all five of the soldiers, knocking them all down to the soil. This was a great advantage, and Draken took it. He roared and brought his claws across all five soldiers, killing them all in an instant. He turned back over to Slide to see another soldier attempting to cut his bindings.
"NO!" Draken hissed, as he rushed forward to intervene. Before he got there, Slide's bonds were broken. The emerald dragon rose up and smashed into Draken with enough force to rattle the trees behind them.
You will die! Slide shouted to Draken, as he rolled around on the ground with him. Both dragons were attempting to snap at each other's necks, but they were evenly matched. Draken managed to break free and quickly took to the sky.
"It will be you who spills blood today," Draken shouted. "Mine shall remain in my body!"
You are finished! Slide hopped up and flew straight towards Draken, but the purple dragon simply avoided him with a slight roll to the left.
"Come on, snake!" Draken taunted. "If you are to kill me, do it!" This enraged Slide and forced him to make poor decisions in conflicts…exactly what Draken was hoping for. Slide attacked Draken from the twelve o'clock (front side) position with his claws outstretched and yerning for the taste of blood. With one small adjustment, Draken was underneath Slide. He pulled up and chomped down mercilessly on Slide's tail, causing him to shriek in agony. Before Slide could retaliate, Draken let go and flipped to position himself behind him.
"It is over, Slide!" Draken shouted over the intense battle below. "You are going to die!" Slide suddenly rolled and dove for the forest below, with Draken hot on his trail. They dove into the forest together, dodging trees and shrubs while trying to kill each other. The only way for this fight to be won was if Draken or Slide never gets up after hitting the ground, and both dragons knew it.
You are fast, Slide admitted, after rolling to avoid a massive redwood tree. Your father has trained you?
"I fly better with fury!" Draken replied harshly. Suddenly, Slide pulled up from the dense canopy and changed course to head back to the battle below them.
I am coming Trianna!
- - - - - - - - - -
"Saphira!" Eragon shouted over the loud clangs of swords. "Did you see our son?"
I did! Saphira replied cheerfully, as she knocked three soldiers to the ground with her tail. I told you that he is a great fighter. Eragon watched as Thorn merged with Saphira to help aid in the battle. The number of soldiers had gone from a hundred to a mere twenty, but the elves had lost a few men as well. Suddenly, a loud shriek filled the air. Eragon looked up to see Slide diving down quickly towards Trianna, but Draken was close behind him.
"STOP THAT DRAGON!" Eragon shouted, but it was too late. Eragon watched as the emerald dragon scooped up his rider.
Use a spell, Saphira said.
"It would do no good," Eragon replied. "She knows counter-spells, remember? If I chant a death spell, she could retaliate and kill me. She may be bound, but that is a spell that can be thought of mentally."
Draken, Saphira called. You did well. Let them go.
But…?
There is nothing we can do, Saphira explained. Come back.
Very well mother, Draken replied. Are you and father alright?
Very much so, Saphira said. She turned to face Eragon, who was covered in the blood of those he had slain.
It is going to get interesting, is it not, Rider? Saphira asked with annoyance. Now Stave has a dragon rider to do his bidding, and she is quite powerful too.
If we killed Galbatorix, Eragon replied. We can certainly finish her as well. Nasuada and Islanzadi approached the two with blood-stained faces from the battle. Apperantly, Eragon was not the only one who decided to bring a weapon with him.
"I will dispatch an army to find Stave tomorrow," Islanzadi replied. "It is obvious that he was the one who killed Arya. Would you and Saphira lead in the manhunt?"
"We only fight when battles come to us now," Eragon replied. "We have a family and must put them first." Suddenly, Murtagh burst through him and stood in front of the two queens.
"I will do it then," he huffed. His clothes were also matted with blood from the battle. "Stave has come after my family for several months. Now is where I can get some revenge."
"Murtagh!" Eragon shouted. "This is not your place, brother! Stave is our problem, not yours…?"
"He has tried to take your children!" Murtagh exclaimed. "He has threatened your life as well! Why must you sit back instead of go after him?"
"I have a family," Eragon replied. "If I get killed, my daughters will have no mother to look after them!" Eragon looked to see one of the guards to his home approaching.
"Argetlam!" he called. "I tried to fight him off, I really did…?"
"What happened?" Eragon asked.
"He almost got it!" the guard replied excitedly. "He tried to take the magenta stone! He told us that there was a changing of the guard, so I obeyed, but then I saw the mark on his palm."
"NO!" Eragon roared, along with Saphira. "How many followers does this man have?"
"Too many," the guard replied. "My partner fell to the man's blade, but I managed to kill him. If we would not have been there, you may have lost them." Eragon turned to Murtagh.
"I'll go with you!"
ACTION!ACTION!ACTION! Don't you love it?
PEACE!