A Gift From the Past
The first thing Eragon noticed when he woke the next morning was that Saphira had wrapped herself around him and had placed her head right next to him; he smiled when he saw how happy she looked. For the first time since leaving Carvahall he felt at peace, he's never truly been alone with Saphira, always there had been the Varden or the Elves and even the Dwarves, and now, now he can be with her and she can be with him. He slowly started rubbing a soft patch of scales behind her eye, he continued until she finally woke.
"What?" Saphira groggily asked.
"Good morning."
"A little longer"
"We need to get up."
"Do we have to? It's so peaceful up here."
"Yes he has to get up, but if you want we don't have to go down right away."
Saphira opened one eye and looked at Eragon
"I'd like that."
"Good"
He leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek, and enveloped her mind in hos sending loving thoughts and feelings; Saphira retuned his love with a tender lick on his cheek. Eragon then sat up and rubbed his eyes, Saphira yawned and stretched.
"Eragon?"
Eragon was startled by the sudden voice.
"Yes Umaroth-elda, what can I do for you?"
"For me, nothing, Blodhgarm wished me to tell you that he would like to speak we you when you wake."
"Thank you Umaroth, I will go see him."
Eragon felt the dragon break contact with him; he returned his attention to Saphira.
"It seems Blodhgarm wishes to speak with me."
Saphira let out a disappointed snort.
"I see, well then I will go and hunt, it's been a few days and I hunger for another one of those delicious deer."
"I will see you later then."
"Yes, you will."
Eragon stood up with Saphira; before she took off she looked at him and gave him a tender lick on the cheek.
"Love you too."
She winked at him then leapt from the platform gliding down into the forest below. Eragon turned and headed back through the double doors and to his private elevator. He stopped it at his room and walked through another pair of double doors and entered his room. He found that the elves had already brought his things up and left them on his bed, but before he change, he decided to wash up so he went to the was closet took a quick bath and used magic to shave off the stubble that was starting to grow, only then did he go and get changed into a fresh pair of clothes. After he finished he left his room, and while walking on the outside of the tree made his way to the elevator that would take him down. He stopped at the second platform that marked each level, he entered the double doors and walked down a hallway to enter the main chamber of the elves, He saw Blodhgarm sitting on one of the benches reading a book, when Eragon approached the elf looked up startled then to the main entrance.
"How'd you come from there when the main entrance is over there?"
"I made platforms lining each level, so I may use my elevator to reach each level without walking all the way around and up."
"Very clever of you."
"Yes, now Umaroth told me you wish to speak."
"Yes I do, I sent word to Arya and Nasuada about our new home and some minor details on its construction."
Eragon felt his heart sink low into his chest.
"How much did you tell them?"
"I left out the part about you and Saphira and that you made this welden abr du Skulblaka for her."
Eragon felt a wave of relief wash over him.
"Thank you Blodhgarm."
"You're welcome Shadeslayer."
"Blodhgarm, could you and the other elves assist me, there's one more task that needs to be done before the welden abr du Skulblaka is finished."
"And what would that be Shadeslayer?"
"I plan on making a canal leading from the ocean to port, the port will be sung into a tree next to the welden abr du Skulblaka."
"Shadeslayer the energy that would require…"
"I have already gathered enough energy, now if you or the other elves have something to contain it I will give you enough to accomplish what is needed."
"I should be able to find something. What is it you wish us to do?"
"For now nothing. First I need to prepare the trench, after I do that you and the other elves will sing the trees into arches over the trench so even the digest of ships will be able to pass through, while you're doing that I'll start on the ship port, if I'm not finished then you can start on connecting it to the welden abr du Skulblaka, I'll give you the enchantment I used on the stones so you and the others can add elevators where needed, after I finish with the port I will open the trench to the ocean flooding it and making it so ships can easily sail to and from the welden abr du Skulblaka."
"This is quite a plan you have, how long will you think it will take to complete?"
"If all goes well a few hours."
"Can we truly complete such a large task tin that short amount of time?"
"Remember Blodhgarm, I was able to complete this welden abr du Skulblaka in a matter of hours. With the energy you'll have it will be done sooner than you think."
"Very well, I will go and inform the others of the plan."
"I will go and search for a tree large enough for the port"
Blodhgarm twisted his fist on his sternum before turning to inform the other elves, Eragon turned and headed back to his elevator which he took to the main level. From there he walked down to the second level where he took an elevator to the ground, from there he set out looking for a tree large enough and yet not too far away from the welden abr du Skulblaka. After an hour or so of searching he finally found a tree that was large enough and was really close to the welden abr du Skulblaka. He sent his mind out wards to find Blodhgarm and the other elves, He quickly located them.
"Blodhgarm, I have found the tree that will be turned in to the port. Have you found something to hold the energy?"
"Yes Shadeslayer, we have, Shall we meet you at the tree?"
"Yes, in the mean time I will start shaping the port."
Eragon broke contact with the elves an turned to face the tree, he walked around the base trying to decide where to place the opening, after walking around the base he decided to place the opening directly opposite of the welden abr du Skulblaka. He started by shaping the massive opening with an outline, after he had the outline he began shaping the opening, widening and deepening the entrance the entrance, he was about half way finished when the elves appeared from around the tree.
"Hello Blodhgarm."
"Greetings Shadeslayer, you have accomplished much."
"Thank you; do you have the object to contain the energy?"
"Yes, we have."
Blodhgarm reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver necklaces with a large ruby as a pendant. He handed it to Eragon who then connected his mid to the ruby and the Belt of Beloth the Wise, he then transferred half of the energy from the belt and into the ruby, a moment later he was finished.
"Here this should be enough energy."
He handed the necklaces back to Blodhgarm.
"Can you finish here? There should be enough finished for you to get an idea of what I want."
"We can."
Eragon nodded his head and turned west heading towards the coast. After walking for a little while Eragon felt Saphira.
"How was your hunt?"
"Fruitful, I found a large buck; he didn't put up much of a fight."
"I'm glad you found something."
"Thank you, now, where are you?"
"I'm heading west towards the coast."
He sent her a mental image of his surroundings.
"I'm near your location, shall I join you?"
"Of course. I will wait for you to arrive."
Saphira didn't answer but she let her mind mingle with Eragon's showing him all that she did and Eragon showing her all he's done. It wasn't long until Eragon herd Saphira's wing beets as they grew steadily stronger until she appeared from behind one of the trees, she spotted him and sloped down towards him.
"There you are."
"What, I've been waiting here."
"I know, that doesn't mean it wasn't tricky to find you."
He walked over to her when she landed and took her head in his hands and kissed her snout.
"Love you too."
"I know you do Saphira."
He then placed his fore head on her snout and held that pose for several moments, enjoying her presence and love. After several moments passed Eragon pulled away and rubbed her cheek before climbing on her back and bracing as she leapt in to the air. Saphira connected their minds and let their feeling's for each other mingle together, ever since they admitted their love for each other connecting their mind and letting their emotions flow openly between them have been their favorite activity. It was a relatively short flight before the ocean came into view.
"Let's land here, this should be close enough."
"Don't you need to be closer to the ocean to start the trench?"
"No it's a spell that Oramis taught me, instead of digging and moving I can stand in one spot and sing the ground to shape what I want."
Saphira angled into a shallow dive
"I see, now this trench how wide and deep will it be?"
"Wide enough so that two of the biggest ships can sail past with easy and deep enough so that when the tide brings the water out the ships can still sail with easy."
Saphira gently landed and Eragon got off, when he was on the ground he turned to his left and started to sing, slowly the ground shifted and Saphira could see that the shift reached all the way back to the elves, then it started to widen, first a few feet then more, and more, until there was a level bare strip of dirt about a hundred or so feet in length, then it started to sink, she watched as the ground steadily receded down until there was an extremely deep trench, Saphira couldn't guess how deep but it was deep enough so ships could sail with ease no matter what the tide was.
Saphira could you contact the elves, and tell them to start connecting the port with the welden abr du Skulblaka, Oh and tell Blodhgarm this too."
Eragon then told her the enchantment he used to create the elevator. He felt her reach her mind out, a few moments later he felt her contact Blodhgarm and share the information with him, she then returned her focus on him.
"I have told him and he said that they have finished the port and are starting on connecting it to the welden abr du Skulblaka."
"Thank you, now what to do, Ah yes, the trees."
Eragon then started to sing to all the trees that the trenched passed under, a moment later the tree roots receded into the base, then the base also started to recede creating an arch, the arch slowly grew in height until it was tall enough to let any sized ship pass through with ease. Eragon cut the spell at this point and surveyed his work, he was satisfied with what he created.
"Saphira could you tell Blodhgarm and the others to back away from the trench?"
Eragon felt her mind reach for Blodhgarm's and the other elves, and tell them to back away, a few moments later she returned to him.
"I have told them and they are now clear from the trench."
Eragon nodded and started singing again. The last of the trees leading to the ocean then grew arches and the trench finished by extending the rest of the way to the ocean. A moment later they heard the thunderous roar of water rushing in and traveling down the trench, they watched as a wall of water rushed pass and continue towards the port.
"There all done."
He turned around to look at Saphira.
"My gift to you is now complete."
Saphira lowered her head and gave him a loving lick starting at his neck and ending on his cheek.
"And it's the best gift I could ever have imagined. Thank you my love, Thank you for giving me a home that no other ever could."
Eragon hugged her head bringing her close to his chest and sending his love to her.
'I love you Saphira, never forget that."
"How could I, you built me a welden abr du Skulblaka with your love."
Eragon let out a small chuckle as he pulled away,
"Yes, yes I did, and soon everyone will now of my love for you."
'I'm afraid of that, what will happen when Arya and Firnen find out?"
"Then they'll have to accept it. They made their choice by not joining use, and Arya made it perfectly clear she can't leave Du welden Varden, and honestly I don't care what Arya thinks, she broke my heart many times over and when she finally admitted her feelings for me she was quick to destroy those too, I only feel bad for Firnen."
Saphira turned so her side was facing Eragon, he eagerly climbed up.
"Now I suppose we should return to the Welden Abr Du Skulblaka."
Saphira leapt into the air angling back towards the city.
"No, no the elves have things under control let's go and find a nice place away from the city for a nice afternoon nap."
"With pleasure."
Saphira then angled north east, she was happy that Eragon wanted to spend time alone together.
"Eragon will make a wonder full father someday."
Saphira secretly thought to herself, she remembered all the times when he demonstrated his love for friends and family, the many times he showed his compassion for those in need, and the biggest one the home he made for her with his own hands.
"Yes he will make a grate father."
She continued thinking about all of this until Eragon spoke to her.
"Saphira, what are you thinking about?"
"I'm only thinking about how lucky I am to have a mate as caring and loving as you, and that how grate of a father you'll be some day."
"Thank you Saphira, only you can understand how much family means to me."
Eragon leaned forward and hugger neck, he got a humming response from Saphira, so she continued to fly north east. Saphira had been flying for little more than an hour when Eragon had this strange feeling.
"Saphira, turn south east."
"Why Eragon?"
"I don't know I just have this strong feeling that we should turn south east."
"Hmm, alright."
Saphira then angled them south east. It was little less than an hour before Eragon got another strange feeling.
"Saphira land on that branch."
"Alright."
Saphira gently landed on the branch of a massive tree, larger the most in the area, but this one was different, instead of the wavy bark like the other trees, this tree's bark was overlapping, almost like; he turned to Saphira and quickly dismissed the idea. He slowly approached the tree.
"Eragon, what are you doing." Saphira said with curiosity.
"Hold on Saphira, I feel like I need to do this."
Saphira wanted to ask more but she respected his wish and only watched as he drew close to the tree. When Eragon was only about a foot away he raised his marked palm and placed it on the tree, Saphira's eyes shot wide open when she saw the gaps where the bark over lapped and started to glow with a teal light, but she was even more surprised when it started pulsing to where his hand lay, then a tall outline of a door appeared and a large piece of bark slide away, Eragon then started forward.
"Eragon what are you doing?" Saphira said with concern
Eragon didn't answer her only continued to walk forward in to the opening, after a moment of contemplation Saphira followed him into the darkness of the tree. After Saphira's entire body entered the dark passage the door slid shut and root clumps on the wall started to glow a white light revealing a circular room, Eragon looked around in confusion.
"Saphira, Where are we, why are we here?"
"Because I have brought you here."
A thunderous voice boomed in their heads. They quickly looked out across the room and saw a pair of glowing teal eyes, but these eyes had no pupils or anything else, only a shape of an eye.
"Who are you, why did you bring use here?"
The creature stepped forward, Eragon and Saphira gasped in shock. It was a dragon, but not a dragon of flesh and done but of solid crystal.
"I am the guardian of this land, this land was and is the birth place of the dragons."
Eragon and Saphira where frozen with shock at what the crystal dragon said, Saphira was first to speak.
"Wait, this forest was where the dragon race was created?"
"Yes, although that knowledge was lost long ago.'
"But how, how were we created?"
"The group known as the Grey Folk, they saw that they would soon die out and no longer be able to keep peace in the land, so many of them combined all their power and created the first dragons, these dragons would keep the land at peace when they have all died."
Now Eragon spoke
"Wait, are you telling us that the Grey Folk sacrificed their power to create the dragons?"
"I am."
Both Eragon and Saphira where completely and utterly shocked, not only is this great forest the dragon's original birth place but they were created from the magic of the Grey Folk. After several long moments Eragon finally spoke.
"Why did you bring me here?"
"As I said I am the guardian of this forest, but also of the dragons. I have watched you since you found Saphira's egg in the spine, I watched you as you protected and cared for her when she needed you, I watched you act with integrity and truthful ness, I watched as you accepted the pain that would kill most men so others could live, I watched as you fought for our kind when you slew Galbatorix, I saw at how hurt you both were when you had to leave your home, how you to then discovered your feelings for one another, and finally Eragon, at how you made the city of Welden Abr Du Skulblaka for Saphira so that her and her kind may flourish and live on, you made city out of a love so strong you have been accepted by the dragons of times passed. They now wish to give you a gift out of their appreciation to you for all you have accomplished."
Eragon was at a loss for words. The dragons that had lived before them want to give him a gift, he tried to speak but no words came out.
"What kind of gift?" Was all he could manage to say.
"The gift to be able to be with Saphira not only as a human but also a dragon, you will be able to change from Dragon to human at will."
Eragon was at a loss for words again, he only stood there staring in shock at the crystal Dragon, after several long silent moments Eragon spoke again.
"Thank you, all of you who decided to give me such a gift I am truly grateful."
"No Eragon it is we who are grateful, for it was by your hands that our race may continue, thank you Eragon Shadeslayer or all you have done for use."
The crystal dragon bowed his head in sign of respect, Eragon mimicked his movement.
"Now Eragon do you Accept this gift."
Eragon didn't even thing before responding.
"Yes I do, tell me what I must do."
"Come to me and place your hand on my Brow, I will do the rest."
Eragon slowly approached the Crystal Dragon, and started to extended his arm.
"Will there be any pain?"
"There will be no pain, you will only feel the magic flow into you."
Eragon placed his palm on the crystal dragons brow.
"Alright I'm ready"
A moment later he felt a massive amount of energy rush through his body, it didn't hurt bot it was uncomfortable, like moving from hot water directly into cold water. As quickly as it started it was finished, Eragon felt a little different but he couldn't place his finger on what was different. The crystal dragon pulled his head away, and spoke to Eragon.
"it is done, you may change in to dragon form at will. Also the new armor you wearing will also change with you but no other will, farewell Eragon and Saphira we are all forever grateful for what you have accomplished, and when your time on this earth comes to an end you both will be accepted among the greatest dragons who have ever lived."
"Thank you again for this wonderful gift."
"You are welcome Shadeslayer, now go and return to Welden Abr DU Skulblaka."
The crystal dragon then backed back into the shadows of the room leaving Eragon and Saphira Standing alone, Eragon turned to Saphira.
"Let us be off I want to get to the ground to see what I may look like as a dragon."
Saphira was still in shock from all that had just transpired, but quickly turned around and out the opening. It was about mid-day when Eragon and Saphira emerged from the tree, the opening quickly shut behind them and the bark reverted back to the wavy pattern of the surrounding trees, he turned his attention back to Saphira.
"Let's go down." Eragon said excitedly.
Saphira was about to offer him a ride down but before she could he ran over to the edge of the branch and jumped off, Saphira soon followed laughing at his excitement, When he was close to the ground he said a spell which slowed him to stop right above the ground, he released the spell and fell the last couple of feet to the ground, Saphira was already next to him. He looked at her with a wide grin, he then started to think about being a dragon and how he might look, suddenly he felt his entire body grow and shift and a moment later he realized that he was standing on four legs and Saphira was staring at him with wide eyes.
"How do I Look?" He asked smugly.
Saphira only shook her head unable to speak and sent him a mental image of what she saw. Standing in front of here was a massive royal blue male dragon with golden brown eyes, he was a little bigger than her, his talons and horns as white as snow and his horns curve up and back over his head, his body is stream line and very muscular, built for speed and agility when flying and power and strength when fighting, all in all he was a very handsome dragon. Eragon then hummed in satisfaction to what Saphira thought, his humming surprised him but Saphira walked up to him and started nuzzling his face.
"I love you too Saphira."
He finished by giving her a loving lick on her cheek which made her shudder a bit
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I've never felt this close with any one before."
Eragon pulled his head away.
"What about Firnen?"
"Firnen was lust, this is love."
She leaned her head back to Eragon and gave him a gentle and passionate dragon kiss starting on his neck and ending above his eye, he too shuddered from the contact. He then moved his body around so he was next to her and laid down she was quick to follow, when she was lying next to him he extended one wing over her and brought her as close as he could to his body, she wrapped her tail around his and placed her head against his on the ground. They slowly fell asleep enjoying the new contact between them.
