AN: Hello guys... Another chapter is done and this one was originally a lot longer... 7000 words plus! I cut into half and ended it at what i think is a suitable point in the story. The second part of this chapter is also ready but I am not satisfied with it yet.. hopefully I'll be able to sort it out by the weeks end. Thank you all again for the wonderful reviews... and
Ky111: man you are plucking ideas right out of my head... Are you gifted with the art of mind reading? Seriosuly, your last review was exactly what I had in my mind...
Vizual-Era What couldnt you understand... Point it out and I'll try my best to help you out...
Mad Hatter: thanks for the support bro...
Another thing, The Inheritance Cycle Revisited (ICR) is done with, atleast for the time being... I found it childish and immature... The DragonBorn (DB) is on hiatus... I will pick up the threads eventually...
Anyways, read on and enjoy this chapter... and don't forget to review!
Chapter 11 : Dragon Rising Part 1
Jarl's Quarters, Morthal
26th September, 1916 T.E.
"Greetings Igrod Ravencrone, Jarl of Hjaalmarch." Eragon bowed slightly to the stately raven-haired woman who sat on the throne. Arya stood slightly behind him and to the left. Her face was, as ever in public, expressionless . In the privacy of her own mind, however, she was once again struck by the attitude of Skyrim's people towards their Jarls and Thanes. The positions were more responsibilities than seats of power and no one ever addressed them with overglorified titles or submissiveness. Every commoner in Skyrim was free to do as he pleased as long as they remained within the confines of law.
"Thane Eragon Bloodborne, welcome to Morthal. I presume that there is a significant reason for your and your beautiful companion's presence in Hjaalmarch," the Jarl greeted in turn, her voice still quite clear and strong, in spite of her advancing years.
"We come here on behalf of the blades and our destination is Skyborn Altar, Jarl. We simply sought rest and refuge in your city last night."
"Skyborn Altar, you say? Hmm... I have of course no intention of inhibiting your mission and if there is any reasonable request on your part, I shall do my best to aid you... But first, I have a favour to ask of you, Thane."
Eragon nodded hesitatingly... it would be extremely rude on his part to not listen to the Jarl's request. The Jarl cleared her throat, and her brow furrowed momentarily... "I would request you Thane to negotiate a settlement between my hold and Windhelm... there has been increasing tension between me and Jarl Baalgruuf.. His herders have for centuries shepherded their cattle in Mara's Clearing which lies in my hold... Similarly, my fishermen have cast always cast nets near Windhelm. Two months ago, there was an altercation between the fishermen of both holds near Windhelm...a boat was damaged and a fisherman died. Jarl Baalgruuf banned our boats from entering the Bruinen fjords, our only access to the Elven lakeside city of Avallone, our major export route. I banned his herders from grazing their flock here but that is hardly having any effect; meanwhile our economy is crippled... I beg of you, Thane Eragon, to help us... Baalgruuf respects you and your uncle and your neutrality as a Thane of Whiterun will go a long way to make him see reason." Igrod's voice was quivering by the end and Eragon knew that the situation was truly dire.
His respect for the aged Jarl only increased, she was prepared to do whatever it took to help her people.
"I will do my best to resolve this situation between you and Jarl Baalgruuf, my Lady." Eragon replied, "however I must first travel to Skyborn Altar.. I've been summoned by the Matriarch and I cannot delay in this."
The Jarl's eyes widened commically on hearing this, "the Matriarch? What are you still doin here!" she shouted, "Had you mentioned this before, I would not even have thought of delaying you."
She rose from her throne and descended to grasp his arm in a warrior's grip, "Thank you Thane for being gracious enough to listen to an old woman's grumbling... But please! Rush to Skyborn Altar!"
Skyorn Altar, Hjaalmarch Hold.
27th September, 1916 T.E.
"Why, oh why do dragons have to roost so damn high up?" Arya complained.
Eragon smirked, "all dragons enjoy the beauty of snow capped mountains for only in the bright glare of sunlight reflected from white snow, do their own scales shine all the more! That and the dominating feel of being so high up than everybody else makes them feel all the more superior."
"Are you serious?" she asked him incredulously.
He nodded, a smug smile on his face, "I had asked a young dragon the very same question and thats what I was told."
"They are very vain creatures, aren't they?" she asked giving him a pointed look.
"Hey!" Eragon protested, "I am not vain!"
The duo were ascending the high plateau that was Skyborn Altar- the narrow path had been dug into the cliffside centuries ago and was quite narrow and dangerous, not to mention, dangerously broken up in certain parts. They had to leave their horses behind in the care of the Stablemaster of Fort Greymoor and complete the journey on foot... but the view was certainly very very good.
The rest of the climb passed in ompanionable silence... Arya was her cheerful self while Eragon was contemplating Jarl Igrod's unusual request. The path finally ended and the cliff face merged with the plateau's floor. Ahead dozens of wild dragons were visible, flying around, some on the ground; the occasional roar or blazing spire of flames shooting skywards made the vista unearthly beautiful as well as more than slightly intimidating.
Eragon was noticed almost immediately and one young dragon roared, announcing his arrival.
"Fin dovahkiin lost meyz" a brown scaled dragon announced and almost instantly, all activities ceased- the dragons observed him- a hidden warmth and respect quite clearly visible in their bearing- they were welcoming- for all practical purposes a snior member of their family.
A large scarlet-gold dragon, glinting like a dollop of blood high in the sky, let out a bugle- and dived towards them, his wings tucked close to his body, his speed increasing with each passing moment till the point that Eragon thought that collison would certainly be inevitable; seconds from impact, the dragon snapped his wings open and drastically converted his momemtum to a horizontal direction, whipping overhead, the gust from his passing almost strong enough to drive Eragon to his knees. He looked on with envy at the aerobatics of the dragon and ran to where he landed.
A lilac colored female had meanwhile approached Arya, a very young dragon, perhaps a year and a half old.
Arya stood confidently and waited for the dragoness to initiate contact; no matter how close she was to Eragon and Paarthunax, she never forgot that she was still an outsider and while no dragon would harm her here, because of Eragon's presence, it would be much better to avoid that possibility in the first place.
"You bear the scent of the Dovahkiin," said the young dragon, looking right at Arya, her violet eyes filled with curiosity, "and he bears yours- you are close, nid?" Her voice was plesantly sweet and melodious.
Arya nodded, "we are close."
She looked at her with a searching and critical gaze and Arya couldnt help but feel that she was being judged.
"You are pretty, I suppose, for a pointy-eared two-legs. I am Britjenah."
"Arya of the Blades.," she replied and the dragoness nidded, turning to look at the dovahkiin who in a headlock-of sorts- with the scarlet-gold dragon,
Arya laughed aloud, a bit worried about the healthiness of headlocking with a dragon.
"That is Ahiraj, the patriach. He and the dovahkiin are fast friends." Britjenah informed her with a wink.
"They behave like children in each other's company." the dragoness informed her in a deadpan voice.
And certainly their actions seemed to lend some merit to her accusations, Eragon was currently buried under Ahiraj's forepaw.
They momentarily separated and walked side by side towards a large cave. Arya and Britjenah followed, as did many of the other dragons.
"That is the nursey." Arya was informed by her new acquaitance.
"Who is the matriarch? Eragon seems terrified of her." Arya asked.
The dragoness laughed, "she is Akorah- Ahiraj's mother. She is the eldest here. Well more than fifteen hundred years old."
'Stern-hunter,' Arya translated in her mind. 'No wonder Eragon is terrified.'
Akorah was one of the largest dragons Arya had ever seen, larger than Glaedr, almost as big as Paarthunax himself. She was amber colored- with white streaks all running diagonnaly through her body. She was without a doubt, very beautiful and very intimidating. Standing close to seventy five feet tall and almost twice as long... Arya didn't want to get on her bad side-ever.
"Dovahkiin!" she said with steel in her voice... everyone grew deathly silent. "Hei los spein- I had asked for your presence two weeks ago!" Arya gulped and hoped that her friend wouldn't come to bodily harm. He looked so miniscule in front of the mother-dragon. Eragon himself felt like he was an impudent child- seven years old all over again. He said in a rather small voice, "unfortunately while I have the soul of a dragon, I lack the wings of one."
The entire plateau shook in the combined laughter of the gathered dragons and Akorah's stern facade crack.
"Come, we must converse- the issue had hand merits serious thought." The matriarch led the group away from the nursery towards the very center of the vast plateau where a circle of depressions had formed in the hard igneous rock by generations of dragons who had sat in the coucil.
Arya made to follow but was paused by Eragon's cries for help. When she looked at the direction the cries had come from, she found Eragon buried underneath three- no, five baby dragons who were nibbling and scratching every place they could reach, all the while clamoring for his attention.
Once Eragon had been rescued from the dragonlings, much to Arya's amusement... the council began. Akorah sat at the center of the semicircle of 'depressions' and on her left sat the warriors and leaders, beginning with Ahiraj while to her right sat the various elder she-dragons of the roost. Since this was an open council, other dragons also sat around the clearing all paying attention to the ongoings.
"As you well know, having the ability yourself, we dragons can see and feel the vennesetiid, the flow of the currents of time- of the intertwining of souls;" Akorah began.
Eragon sat all the straighter.. this talk of the currents of time was disturbing.. Eragon kew the curse well enough... He was often haunted by visions of his predecessors and even others when he visited particular sights.
"Three months ago, one of the young couples here laid an egg- a single egg. The dragon inside refuses to hatch. I have a strong feeling that the two of you have woven destinies- you have a past : vuun krent."
Arya reached out and grabbed his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. He smiled hesistatingly at her.
"So what do you ask of me?"
"You know very well... Dovahkiin. The egg will hatch for you," the matriarch replied. Her amber eyes were studying him keenly.
"Is it common for the dovahkiin to be a rider as well?" Arya asked aloud.
Many dragons scoffed... "The order has been around for about two and a half thousand years.. the dovahkiin are far older... there have been dovahkiin as long as there have been mortals and dov.. Tiber Septim or Hjalti as we know him was the reason the Order of the Shrutuugal was founded in the first place... to balance the sheer strength and power of the alliance between men and the dov. It was Tiber Septim's victory over the Aldmer that caused many sleepless nights for the Elves." a green dragon to the right of Akorah told her.
"You're evading my question," Arya persisted.
"This one has spirit, a black dragon on the left of Ahiraj said. "I like her. The short answer of your question is yes. It is not uncommon for a dovahkiin to have a dragon as a companion or good friend.. it is common sense of course, two beings of the same species are more likely to be friends than of two different species."
"But Eragon is unique... never before has a dovahkiin had bonded with an egg... the dragon was often a youngling or even an adult in past cases, never an egg." Ahiraj said.
"All I am saying that all unhatched eggs and men and elves are bound under the magic of the Shrutuugalar bond, they have ever since Eragon the first and Bid'daum created the governing magic."
Eragon now understood... if the egg hatched for him, as Akorah was sure it would then he would be a rider.
"I understand..." he said, his voice as hard as steel with determination. "Take me to the egg."
Doubt tore at Eragon as he followed Akorah to the worried parents. He already was Dovahkiin- he was already extremely powerful and perhaps even destined to defeat Alduin... and now there was this spectre of being a rider. His fate was very very twisted... he had dreamed of being a rider like Brom as a child... once he had crossed the age of twenty he had made peace with the fact that he would never become a rider... And now here he was. A rider, or atleast a prospective one.
Now he was worried that so much power would easily corrupt him... would he become another Tiber Septim? Another Talos? Whose thirst for power was never quenched... who destroyed an ancient empire (albeit a abusive, autocatric racist one).
"You worry too much Eragon," Arya suddenly said, entwining their hands and smiling warmly at him.
"The Dovahkiin have always been the most powerful warriors in Alagaesian history- they have always been revealed at apocalyptic moments and have changed the fate of this land with their deeds... it was always evident that you too would be powerful beyond compare... You have to be considering the challenges that you face... Alduin, the Forsworn and the Empire and who knows what else in your future. That doesn't mean that you'll be a despot nor does it mean that you'll ascend to Godhood like Tiber Septim." She had stepped closer until their bodies were lightly pressed against each other. Eragon was being overwhelmed by the addictive fragnance of crushed pine cones that was so Arya. "What matters is who you are, here," she whispered, her emerald eyes gazing into his own, placing a palm on his thudding heartbeat.
She looked up at his face and Eragon's mind went blank at the smouldering fire in her emerald eyes... "I know you... I SEE YOU... you are noble and a kind-hearted man... And as long as I am there in your life, you'll remain so."
He licked his lips to wet them, and whispered, "Forever then."
She nodded, her gaze drifting to his lips. "Forever" She leaned in at the same time as he did, their lips meeting halfway in a soft warm kiss, filled with passion and love.
Two dragons were waiting for them alongwith Ahiraj and Akorah in one of the larger caves that surrounded the plateau, A deep azure blue dragoness and a startlingly handsome noble white dragon with dark red stripes.
The two, in one fluid motion, brought their left frront foot forward and bowed their heads slightly, paying Eragon the respect accorded to an elder dovah.
"I am Vervada Stormscales, Eragon Dovahkiin," the azure dragon spoke- her voice unmistakably feminine and yet predatorial.
"An honor to meet the legendary Stormscales of the seige of Raven's Perch." Eragon replied with a small bow.
'Stormscales?' Arya whispered to him in his mind.
'Aye. Stormscales. Vervada has an unusually strong Call Storm shout. She used it to great effect during the seige of Raven's Perch- destroying the rampart of the castle with a terryfying storm.'
The white-red dragon approached, "Iormungr, Dovahkiin and the honor of meeting you is most assuredly mine."
Eragon smiled and bowed as well. Despite their words, the two dragons were quite clearly stressed.. their eyes narrowed with days if not weeks of poor sleep... the veins in their throats were quite clearly taut- a sure indication of pent up frustration.
"Vervada and Iormungr are the worried parents I had told you about." Akorah informed him. Eragon nodded, having guessed as much.
"May I see this egg?" Eragon asked of the mother and she nodded. Turning around to lead him into the cave. The cave was massive... and had a gentle downslope for about fifty feet or so before levelling out into a huge room. It was spacious enough to hold all four dragons and have room for two dragons the size of Paarthunax. The cave had been dug out of the igneous rocks by dragon claws and shaped by dragonfire. The walls had a polished glassy texture, an indication of the fierceness of the fire; the whole chamber was lit up by soft glowing red werelights. In the furhtermost corner, Eragon found a single sapphire blue egg, nestled among charred rocks.
He looked to the mother for permission and once she nodded, he stooped down and picked the large egg, cradling it in his arms... it was very beautiful and in his mind, he could sense Arya's emotions... overwhelmingly joyous... He smiled as he studied the egg... a royal blue at the base that slowly transitioned to a pale blue, almost white at the apex, the egg was covered by a spider's web of thin white veins that completely covered the hard shell. It was quite cool to the touch and Eragon felt a small tingle plucking at his very soul as he held it.
Arya gasped when the egg started to glow and Eragon found his hands stuck to the egg... it was also becoming progressively warmer. Then the white veins started to glow, reaching scalding temperatures. Eragon could feel the heat on his skin but it did him no harm...
"She is hatching! Blessings upon you Dovahkiin!" Vervada murmurred from behind Eragon, tears of relief and joy flowing down her cheeks.
"Elfling!" Vervada shouted at Arya, "get behind me! The egg will explode!"
Arya heeded the warning just in time. She had barely made it behind the mother dragon when suddenly the whole egg burst into bright blue flames that roared into a crescendo, completley enveloping Eragon and the egg. The heat became so intense that Arya was forced to seek shelter behind the wing of the mother dragon.
Slowly the flames receeded to reveal Eragon cradling a new born dragon in his arms. He was gazing into the sapphire blue eyes of the baby dragon and she looked right back at him... she cocked her head to a side and then suddenly reached out and nuzzled his left palm... A searing fire arced through his arm... burning through his nerves and leaving him blinded with the agony... Eragon screamed and darkness took him…
Translations of the dragon language used in the chapter…
Fin dovahkiin lost meyz : the dragonborn has come
Hei Los spein : you are late
Vennesetiid : the currents of time
Vuun krent : destiny unkept
So, how was the chapter, hit the review button and tell me! All criticisms accepted!
SO how was the chapter?! Do hit the review button and inform me... all viewpoints appreciated!