Chapter xXI

The start of our journey

I woke up the next morning and realized I had forgotten to talk with Saphira. I woke Ellestygia, who apparently got there sometime after we fell asleep. She got up immediately after I woke her, and for the first time too. She was waking up slowly, complaining the whole time.

Amber, I know you want to seek revenge on the Shade, but Christal is right it's too dangerous, she said.

Do you want Eragon and Saphira to DIE, because if the Varden lose they will be captured or killed! I know I SURELY do NOT want either to happen!

AMBER, I don't want either to happen too, but...

But- WHAT! I know it could mean my life, but I don't want my brother, Ellestygia, MY BOTHER, to die!

It would mean our lives, Amber, OUR LIVES. We are linked together, and I don't want to die because my Rider is too foolish to understand how important she is to a WHOLE lot of people! You are just as foolish as a hatchling, trying to get adventure by risking its life unnecessarily! And can you imagine what Eragon would think if he knew you had been killed to save him, he would go CRAZY!

Well, at least, he would be alive!

Not for very long, he would die of insanity!

Can we please STOP talking about this, we are going and that's FINAL!

We went out of the house and walked toward the forest. Ellestygia didn't speak to me the whole time, not one word. I feared she would not talk to me ever, I couldn't blame her I had said horriblethings to her.

Amber, she said.

My thoughts lightened.

I am sorry, you are right I am too protective of you.

"No, don't say that, you just don't want me to get hurt, and that's because you are a great dragon. I'm sorry I yelled at you like that, it was wrong."

I understand, you love Eragon very much, and don't want him to get hurt.

"I know this sounds wrong, really wrong, but you are more important to me than Eragon."

Don't lie.

"It's not lying 'it's just truth'," I said, repeating what she had told me.

Soon we were at the clearing, and I got on Ellestygia, her hard scales under my legs. I felt horrible about leaving Christal, though it was for her own safety.

"Come on, let's go," I said feeling worse by the minute.

Are you sure?

"Yes," I said heavily.

At that Ellestygia let out a roar, and jumped into the air, her leg muscles moving under me. Her wings flapping with effort to keep in the air. She flew out of the forest, and I gave no back-look at Ellesméra.

We flew for hours before seeing the first signs of the great desert.

Should we...

No, keep flying.
She flew on for at least three hours before we stopped for the night. I swung of her back, landing in the golden sand. All I needed for a camp was Ellestygia and a fire, of which I had possession of both, kind of. I went out to find twigs, and after ten minutes or more I was unsuccessful.

Need some help? asked Ellestygia.

"Yes, I guess."

She walked off for a while, then returned with a sapling in-between her sharp teeth. She sat it on the ground, then, with a sharp motion of her tail, she broke the sapling to splinters.

Will that suffice?

"You know it will."

I picked up some of the splintered wood, and put it together in a pile.

"Brisingr!" I commanded.

The fire flared up instantly at the sound of the word. Even being an elf magic still amazed me.

Magic amazes me, considering I can only use it to an extent, commented Ellestygia.

"It does me too."

You know you are very...

"What?"

Stubborn.

"Me, stubborn? And you aren't."

She made a sound that was in-between a growl and something else, I knew it was laughing.

No, I think you have the most persistence I have seen yet, she said crouching down, her back legs under her, and her front legs in-front of her. "Thanks, and I think you have the most strength and wisdom."

Compared to Saphira? She is wiser than I and stronger.

"She is older than you."

True.

Our subject somehow turned from that to about how we left Christal and us leaving her.

"That felt wrong, but she wasn't ready for this."

And according to our training, neither was her dragon.

"But I thought you said 'she had power'?"

I meant for her age.

"Oh. We need to sleep now, don't you think?"

I agree...What was that!

"What?" I asked getting scared.

It must have been...a bird...or something, I don't know,good night ,young one.

"Good night, Ellestygia."

I fell into my waking dreams, and quickly contacted Saphira.

Saphira!I called.

Yes, she said appearing before my eyes, Why did you leave Christal and Arnora?

I felt they were not ready for such a challenge.

That was a wise decision, you are becoming a good Rider.

My choice was good?

Yes, it was. If you thought them not to be ready, they weren't. Every Rider must learn when to choose safety over friends, and you chose right. Arnora may be my daughter, but she grows as a normal dragon does.

Really?

Yes, Eragon has taught you well.

Oh, I said felling the same punch-in-the-stomach feeling.

What's wrong?

You know Eragon was almost killed right?

WHAT!

I thought you knew what happens around Alagaësia?

I do, but I can't sense death or injuries.

So that's why you didn't know Brom was...killed, right?

Correct, I was worried that I couldn't even sense my own Rider's death, but no one can do that. Who did this to Eragon?

The Shade.

You want revenge right?

Oh,yes I am proud to do so too.

Good, sometimes, and I'm not saying it's good, but revenge is necessary.

I understand.

As I pronounced the last letter, a surging pain entered my head. Saphira was whipped from my view.

Saphira was replaced by no other than Arilia.

Ah, we meet again, Rider, came her cold voice. Do you like what I did to your dearest Eragon.

I couldn't even reply my head was throbbing so bad, but I wanted to kill her. If this was the battle and I had Akarclio, she would have its blade through her right now. It was pure deep loathing, complete loathing.

You...you...you...

Go ahead, she said tauntingly.

I...I...I can't

The same sane comment Eragon said, too weak to blow up at someone.

She left, probably because she had no more to say.

I woke again by pure shock and pain. It was so dark I couldn't see very far, so I knew it was at least a few hours past the middle of the night. Ellestygia was asleep, her side muscles expanding and contracting as she took in giant breaths, then let them out. I stared in wonder at her beauty, her scales were like a thousand shining deep sapphires. Then I averted my gaze to the dark sky. Hang on, Eragon, I'll soon be by your side, I thought. I averted my gaze, once more, this time toward the Beor Mountains, and what I saw shocked me. The sky over the mountains was lighting up in bright flashes that came and went.

They're still at war! I thought.

Ellestygia heard me, for she woke and rose to her feet.

They're at war, still? she said, following it with a roar.

Stop it, do you want someone to hear you?

No, but...What was that!

Again?

This time I know I saw something.

What do you...

All my breath was taken away as excruciating pain erupted in the small of my back. I heard Ellestygia roar painfully as our link made us share the pain. Dots appeared before my eyes, and I knew no more.

Chapter xXII

The Shared pain

Where am I? I thought. I wanted to know where I was, but I was afraid of what I might find. The only thing I could remember was pain coming to my back and Ellestygia's roar as she shared my pain. I slowly opened my eyes, then was aware of the pain and the fact I was on my knees. The pain was harsh, my back was sore and throbbing, my mind was clouded so that I couldn't think straight. I knew I had been drugged to suppress mypowers and contact to Ellestygia. I still had no clue to where I was, nor could I contact Ellestygia for the drug. When I got up the courage to try and move I was blocked. I then realized my hands were tied above me to a single dark column that prevented me from moving even an inch. My feet were tied likewise to the column under my knees. I turned my head to look to my side, only to find a saddening sight. Ellestygia had been chained to a similar column, her legs, tail, neck, and wings, suppressed with heavy chains, and her mouth shut tight with a muzzle of metal. She met my gaze, her eyes full of sadness.

We both just sat there wondering what would happen. Soon I saw what frightened me the most, Arilia was walking out of a doorway and toward us. I struggled to try and free myself, but the ropes seemed to only get tighter.

"Ah, Rider, you are awake," came her voice. "Your dragon seemed to give under your pain, and she let me catch her once I had you."

"You will never win," I said.

"I beg to differ, you see, I have taken your sword and your dragon can't help, and can you even remember one word in the ancient language?"

"No," I said helplessly.

She chuckled, "No one can save you now, you foolishly left your friend, and I have disabled Eragon, so you can't be saved."

She had walked closer to me, so that we were face-to-face. Her eyes burned with blood-red joy. I couldn't even move my head away from her for the column behind me. For once I was truly scared, even petrified at her. I wanted her to just do with me what she wanted and go away, but she stayed there looking at me. I glanced over to Ellestygia her face ridden with the same fear that jolted in me. She backed up some, and looked over to Ellestygia.

"Your curse is doing well, I presume."

"Actually, it is quite a feeble attempt."

"You listen to me," she said walking beck up to me.

Ellestygia growled and let lose a plume of smoke. Arilia took no care to her struggle to get lose.

"You may be stronger than usual people, but trust me, I posses power like my brother."

"So, not much."

She hissed and looked furiously at me.

"You want to test me? I like challenges, so let the pain begin."

Barzûl! I cursed in dwarvish. How could I have been so stupid! I thought, I just asked the Shade to hurt me!

Arilia was muttering in the ancient language, something that was so fast I couldn't hear, but recognized. She was muttering the same spell Durza had used to poison Arya, and I was scared. I remembered what happened to Arya, and it was almost the same for me. I was bound with no way of escaping, while a Shade that wanted me dead was going to poison me. She walked to me, Ellestygia struggling harder than ever to free herself. The Shade was face-to-face with me again. I felt a a prick in the middle of my chest, and knew she had just poisoned me. The poison took effect so quickly I sunk to my knees, feeling weakened. My breathing quickened and I felt faint, but stayed conscious. Ellestygia was roaring and pulling with enough force to knock down a building. Arilia took no notice in her, but walked back from me.

As Ellestygia struggled the poison coursed through my body, my breathing slowing down, and the only thing I could do would be unwise. If I withdrew Arilia would capture me, but if I stayed conscious the poison would kill me. Ellestygia finally remembered her full power and ripped the metal muzzle from her face. She took one furious look at Arilia and sent a column of flame bursting from her opened jaws. Arilia put her hand out and the fire dissolved around her. Ellestygia tugged at the chains holding her legs, but couldn't prevail to get them off. She then lowered her head and pulled at the chain on her front leg with her teeth. The chain was too weak to withstand the crushing weight and was crushed to pieces by Ellestygia's ivory teeth. With one leg free Ellestygia knocked the other chains off her legs with one blow of her free leg.

Arilia -for the first time- looked scared as Ellestygia knocked free of the last chain that was binding her neck. Ellestygia rose to her full height, but could still do nothing about me. Arilia was there to prevent us from leaving, but Ellestygia had a more prevailing plan. She let out a blasting roar, to let Arilia know she would do anything. She then lunged at Arilia, but the Shade was too fast and dodged her. Hitting the Shade is not what Ellestygia had in mind, though. With the Shade out of the way she had a clear path to me, which she took note of.

Young one, can you hear me? Ellestygia said.

The drug had finally wore off, for I could think of words in the ancient language and could hear Ellestygia clearly.

Yes, but what ever you plan to do, do it quickly, for I must withdraw if I want to live past tomorrow.

I will do what I can.

I just sat there helpless and in much pain. Ellestygia carefully crannied her neck around, and with one careful motion broke the ropes that bound me. I bent forward on my hands and knees trembling. I didn't know what to do next, but I sat up and stared to rub my sore wrists. Ellestygia walked in front of me, acting like a full-body shield. I was getting weaker and weaker by the second, and it scared me too.

I soon fell over too weak to do anything, and as I did a conscious called out to me,

Amber! it called.

Amber!

My vision was blurred, but I could still see things going on around me. A silver-colored blur crashed through the ceiling and I saw Arilia looked petrified at the sight of it. Something grabbed me up, but it was neither Ellestygia or the silver blur, it was a person. The person carried me to the silver blur and put me on top of it, only then did I notice the silver blur was a dragon. Arilia hadn't moved from when she had dodged Ellestygia, for she was frozen in fear.

I would've been scared, but two things held the fright back. Ellestygia wasn't in protection mode, and I was in so much pain I didn't care what happened. The silver dragon bounded into the sky and flew out the gapping hole it had made in the ceiling. I was slumped over part of the dragon's neck, with-what might have been- its Rider behind me.

The dragon flew on, but I realized I could safely withdraw now. When elves withdraw the are sort of in a coma, but don't wake until they feel the danger has past or they are safe. I withdrew darkness surrounding me.

The next thing I knew was my body was shaking violently and I couldn't control it, and I was hot, I had a horrible fever. Then, I felt a soft touch against my cheek and my body calmed down. I felt I was in comfort, so I relaxed.

I wouldn't know if Ellestygia was trying to contact me, for I closed my mind so I would not spend the energy I needed to stay alive. The only thing that could save me would be Tunivor's Nectar which was the only antidote, but the problem was it was only in the Varden or Ellesméra who had it and we were too far away from both.

I tried to remember how Arya had stayed alive long enough to reach the Varden, but Eragon had Murtagh and couldn't ride Saphira. I was alone with Ellestygia and another dragon and Rider, so we could get there faster. However, I needed to tell someone this, but I couldn't afford to use the energy needed to do that.

The next thing I knew is I felt better, my fever was gone, and -I guess- so was the poison. I was still weak, and couldn't be sure the poison was gone. Though I wasn't afraid of losing strength.

Ellestygia, what happened?

Amber! The poison is gone, Br...you were healed! You can wake.

Did they give me Tunivor's Nectar?

No, but the poison is gone!

It can't just be gone, sure I'll be fine for a while, but once we are at the Varden they need to give me Tunivor's Nectar to completely take the poison away. If I am not given Tunivor's Nectar the poison will just come back and kill me later.

Then we must go to the Varden, now!

Wait for me to wake up, is it morning or night.

It is early morning.

Then I will wake in a few hours.

Again an interval of time passed before I knew anything else. The next thing I knew I was slowly opening my eyes. When I had them fully opened I saw Ellestygia looking down at me.

You're awake!

"Ye...ah," I said my voice trembling, "How long has it been since...you know?"

You were like that for two weeks.

"Two weeks! It didn't seem that long."

It was.

"Who saved me? Tell me what happened."

You know as much as...?

"I remember getting on that silver dragon, but nothing else."

It was Saphira who saved us.

"Saphira, Brom's Saphira?"

Yes.

"But she wasn't alone, was she?"

What are you saying, she was by herself.

"No, someone else was there, they were behind me on her back."

Amber, she was alone!

"When my body was shaking I felt someone touch my cheek. Wait! You said I was healed by 'Br...' Br..om, Ellestygia! Why didn't you tell me Brom was there!"

He told me not to tell you, unless you figured it out. He also said you probably would figure it out, for you are a smart girl.

"Yes, because 'smart' girls get themselves captured by Shades."

Anyway, you really want me to tell you what happened?

"Go ahead."

We got here and you had already withdrawn, so we didn't know what to do. We waited for a few days then you started to shake like crazy. I was scared, but Brom said that you just had a fever.

"I did. I could fell it."

But you weren't alright, your breathing became too labored or too slow. We were worried, and then we found the poison was spreading. I could see it too, it was all over your chest. Then, Saphira offered to heal you, with the help of Brom. They did, then had to leave, and now you are awake.

Again I was scared, I had been -once more- so close to death one more day and I would have been dead.

"Did Brom look like I had described?"

Yes, like a ghost.

"Right, we need to get to the Varden as soon as possible, before the Shade almost kills me again."

Grab your stuff and get on. Wait, put the saddle on me.

"Why?"

Because, if the poison comes back, then I don't want you to fall off.

"Good idea, let me do it."

I held out my hand, my palm facing upward, then I said a few words in the ancient language. After I had said the words a brown orb was hovering over my palm. I made a quick motion to Ellestygia's back, and the brown orb streamed onto her back.

After I had done it pain erupted in my chest, and the next thing I knew I was on the ground.

Amber!

"I...I'm okay, we need to go now!" I said getting up.

I knew that it was the poison that did that to me, and I couldn't do heavy attempts at magic or sword fighting until I was completely healed. By the time I got on Ellestygia the sun was setting behind the Beor Mountains.