Heart Pounder #2
Chapter 74: Birth of the Old Code
It was a disturbing site in the forest that night. Eragon and Murtagh had done all they could, placing every ounce of their magic together to heal Draken's wound, but they had little hope of him surviving. Saphira had morphed into dragon form to console Covin'thra while Thorn stood beside her, and Lunalese propped herself against her mate with tears flowing freely from her ruby eyes.
"Come on son!" Eragon called out weakly as he stepped away from him. "Do not leave us." Lunalese whimpered loudly and frantically nuzzled Draken with her snout. It seemed as if all hope was lost.
Luna, Saphira called for her. The weeping dragoness looked up briefly and tossed her head back down to Draken's side.
He did everything for me, Lunalese sobbed. She groaned subtly and placed her paw over his limp one. Why must fate be so cruel? The second when I am truly happy, all that gave it to me disappears. She whimpered again and licked the side of Draken's cheek. I cannot go on without him, Saphira.
Do you not think I feel the same way? Saphira asked with sadness deep in her voice. Draken is my only son and the first that Eragon and I conceived. We both are in mourning, Lunalese, but he is not gone yet. Eragon and Murtagh have done their part, but it is up to Draken to recover. Arthur walked over to Murtagh and bowed humbly in front of him.
"I have tracked the wyvern who caused such a wound," Arthur explained. "He has retreated back to the nesting grounds." Suddenly, Eragon withdrew his sword and swore.
"I shall take his head off," Eragon roared. "How dare he try to kill my only son?"
Patience Eragon, Saphira told him hurtfully. If our son comes to, I am sure he would be more comfortable with all of us at his side.
"Saphira is correct," Murtagh muttered. "We will strike at dawn and watch over my nephew over the night."
Please fight love, Lunalese whispered into Draken's ear. Do not leave me. I need you! Draken's breathing was still very shallow, but it was stable. She could tell that Draken was fighting to stay alive. You must live, my love. If you do not, then I will follow just as I told you. If that happens, then all we did tonight was for nothing.
Never…say…that, a voice struggled to say inside her mind. She looked down to see Draken open his emerald eyes. Luna…I am…sorry.
For what? Lunalese asked. The tears began flowing freely as she stroked her snout against Draken's.
I…did not…defend you, he murmured quietly. I failed as your mate to keep us safe.
No, Lunalese cried. Do not say that, my dearest! You forced me to find shelter while you fought in my place. We were both too weak to fight, but you thought of me more than yourself. Draken, you saved my life. She covered him with her wing and placed her head up against his. I do not want to lose you, Draken. I cannot raise a hatchling on my own!
Luna, he said slowly, letting the word fill inside of her mind. He grunted softly and shut his eyes again. His breathing stopped and his head went limp against the blood stained soil. Lunalese quickly nudged his side with all of her might, roaring in pain and despair as she did so, but he would not respond. All hope was lost. Saphira let out a mournful cry as well and quickly padded over to her son.
Child, Saphira shouted towards him. Do not go, Draken! Hold on my son…Fight it! Eragon and Murtagh rushed forward too and both collapsed on Draken's limp form.
"He is gone," Murtagh choked out between sobs. "My first nephew…is no more." Eragon fell to tears and gently lifted up Draken's head to place it in his lap. His son…the first wild dragon…was dead. Lunalese wailed into the night sky, pouring fresh tears from her ruby eyes and onto the dirt below her. Arthur walked up to the hapless dragoness and placed his hand on her large shoulder for comfort.
What am I to do? Lunalese whimpered to the boy. Draken was the dragon I relied on and gave my heart to. With him gone, I have nothing else to live for. Arthur looked up at Lunalese with his strong blue eyes and showed a tear sliding down his cheek.
"I am so sorry," he sighed to her. Lunalese stepped away from the dead dragon and dug her claws into the dirt. "Is there anything I could do?"
Kill that wyvern, Lunalese whispered. Make him suffer for doing this to me. Arthur, I know little of you, but remember this day and remember how well Draken had fought for those he loved. Suddenly, Eragon screamed up at the sky and raised his sword high in the air.
"That winged son of a bitch will pay!" Eragon shouted at the top of his lungs as the trees nearby shook violently by the power of rage in his voice. "I swear to you, beast, your day is numbered!"
- - - - - - - -
Did you get him? Lisben asked, pruning the bugs and sticks off of Recioh's feathers. The black wyvern nodded his head proudly.
No one could have survived that, Recioh replied. Magic would have healed the surface, but that wound went deeper than any spell caster could imagine.
- - - - - - - -
Minutes passed by as the family huddled around their lifeless son. Eragon clutched so hard at his sword that blood had began to seep out of the cracks in his knuckles and Saphira lay beside Covy to comfort her in such a grief.
You cannot be dead, Lunalese whispered. She refused to move away from her lover and placed herself to his right side, covering his now frail body with her bright yellow wing. You need the mate's permission to do this. Please do not leave me. Suddenly, she felt a strong kick in her stomach, as if something had just been dropped inside of it. Draken! She called to him tearfully. My love, I am with dragon. Do not leave me to care for it on my own. I need you to guard it…and me. Still, no movement came from the lifeless form. Lunalese dropped her head and cried, sobbing madly on Draken's limp forearm. Her dream had come true, but the one person that she wanted to celebrate the moment with was dead. How could you do this to me?
- - - - - - - -
The two wyverns settled in together as they watched the sun climb up over the mountains. Lisben was drifting off to sleep and Recioh felt as if it was his duty to guard the eggs from being destroyed in retaliation.
There is no way, Recioh muttered to himself. That dragon had to have died. Could it really have so much strength to fight off death itself? With that said, Recioh flew off to find food for himself and his mate.
- - - - - -
Draken suddenly shot his eyes open. It was dawn and he was struggling to catch his breath. He leapt up to his feet quickly and turned to see that everyone around him was asleep. Lunalese was lying with her chin against the ground and a pool of tears gathered underneath her eyes. Thorn and Covy were sleeping next to each other under a tree while Eragon, Murtagh, and Saphira huddled up together around a burnt out campfire.
What happened? Draken asked himself quietly. He inspected a nasty scar that was left on his throat and shook his head. The wound was so big that they sealed the cut, but could not fully mend it together.
So you are awake, a familiar voice chimed in his mind. Draken turned quickly to see Arthur twirling his sword at the hilt with both of his hands. I thought you were too brave to surrender to death. Draken wanted to snort, but he did not want to wake the others. Instead, he silently crept up to the boy and slid down to his haunches.
You can speak mentally? Draken asked.
I know many things, Draken, Arthur explained. You are strong, my friend, and your might upholds the weak. It was very noble sacrificing yourself for your woman.
Do you mean 'mate?' Draken asked with a soft chuckle. It was the vow I swore to her.
You honor your words, do you not? Arthur asked. Draken nodded. Very well, he chuckled. I have been working on something that I feel shall be very important one day. I have a vision, Draken, and it involves knights of respect, courage, and commitment. If you were human, could you be that knight? Draken looked up in thought. His father had mentioned many tales of going to war with swordsmen and Galbatorix's mighty knights and he was curious on if he wanted to be like them.
I could not, Draken explained. They were crude, disrespectful, and dishonorable. I would rather become a beggar than a knight.
Draken, Arthur explained. You have already proven my point. You respect those you fight alongside, you have courage when you go into battle, and you commit to the people that you love. Draken, you are the knight I wish to create. You see, there is something that I have been working on not long ago to keep knights honest and trustworthy. After many days of thought, I finally created it, and you were the sole source, Draken. A dragon…seen to me as a noble knight.
Can I hear it? Draken asked politely. Arthur chuckled softly and cleared his throat.
A knight is sworn to valor, he chanted inside of the dragon's mind. His heart knows only virtue. His blade defends the helpless and his might upholds the weak. His word speaks only truth and his wrath undoes the wicked.
Wow, Draken admitted. He lowered his head humbly and took a bow. Thank you for thinking of me in that.
This is the code that I have created, Draken, Arthur replied. If it is followed, corruption like what happened with Galbatorix will never rise again.
How old are you? Draken asked worriedly. Your wisdom is astonishing. Arthur chuckled and slid his blade silently into its sheath.
I am twelve, Arthur said with a slick smile. The blade that I have has granted me with large amounts of wisdom, like Elva when Eragon blessed her.
Elva? Draken asked. I know not of that name.
Do not worry, friend, Arthur said kindly. We need to wake your friends. This morning is a time for breakfast, and we shall feast on the wyverns' eggs. Draken roared at the comment, which sent every sleeping person into a sprawling fit. Eragon leapt up and swung his sword briefly while Murtagh reached back to fetch his bow. It took everyone a brief second before realizing who was in front of them.
Draken? Lunalese asked faintly. Draken turned to see that the yellow dragoness did not move and kept her head down on the ground. Am I dead?
What? Draken asked. Lunalese looked up at him and squinted her eyes. From where Draken was standing, the sun was rising behind him to give a more angelic look to his figure. No dear.
My heart hurts, Luna sighed, dropping her chin back down to the soil.
Allow me to fix it, Draken said, as he inched closer to her. She trembled and shied away.
You never even said goodbye to me, Lunalese sobbed. The last thing I heard from you all night was my name. Do you know how painful it was for me thinking that was going to be the last thing I would ever hear from my mate?
Luna, Draken cooed. I did not say that to torment you. I could not think of anything sweeter to leave my mind to you than your name. Please forgive me.
Draken, she whispered. We are going to be parents. Draken's mouth dropped as Lunalese slowly climbed to her feet. I called out for you all night, she told him. How could I raise a dragonet on my own without you to protect us?
I offered my life as a sacrifice last night, Draken explained. I left so you could live. I fought for you, my dear, in life and death. Never once did I give up.
I saw you die right in front of me! Lunalese snapped. How did you not give up?
I cannot explain it, Draken sighed. Lunalese slowly crept up to him and nuzzled him softly.
Just never do that again, she snorted out. You must ask permission from you life-partner before pulling a trick like that. Suddenly, Draken was pounced on by Eragon, Murtagh, and Covin'thra. He rolled on the ground and narrowly squashed his father in the process, but, in the end, all were engulfed in a tight embrace. Saphira watched tearfully from the side as the mix of dragons and humans wrapped themselves into a multicolored ball of flesh and scales.
"Draken!" Eragon called out in tearful laughter. "My boy, never do that to us again."
"Ahem," Arthur spoke to break the reunion. "My friends, now is the best time to strike at those foul creatures. Now, they should be hunting for breakfast, which would leave a few guarding the nests. Let us go in and attack before they come back."
"Lunalese must stay here," Draken pointed out. All the men gathered around gave him a quizzical look, but shook it off. "She is expecting." Silence fell on the campground as smiles plastered on Eragon and Murtagh's faces.
"There is no time to waste," Arthur spoke up to break the silence. "We can all walk there from here and the dragons could keep those returning at bay while we do our job."
I am not staying here love, Lunalese said with tearful eyes. Last time you told me to stay safe, you were the one who got yourself killed.
Okay, how many thought that I was not going to bring him back? Also, because Lunalese is a real no-humanly-mixed wild dragon, she discovers being gravid about an hour or two sooner than Saphira. Yes, I was planning on killing Draken, but then I would have to do all types of things to protect myself from the angry mob of Drakenlovers out there. Sorry if I offended you :)