Hello again guys... it felt great reading the reviews of the last chapter and here's another... in record time and the longest one yet in this series...
I hope that you guys enjoy this chapter and once again tell me what you think about this one...
infiniteark: Info about Skyrim? I would have suggested the elder scrolls wikia, but that is too much lore... I am big fan of the elder scrolls universe but even I have trouble shifting through that mountain of often contradicting myths and legends.
The main thing that you need to know are the Dragonborn, Alduin and the Nine Divines. Google It!
Again, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter as much as I did while writing it!
Chapter 12 : Dragons Rising Part II
28th September, 1916 T.E.
"She is beautiful, isn't she?" Arya asked her friend as they observed the newborn dragon play with other dragonlings.
Eragon simply nodded, too exhausted to speak. They were in the same cave where the the egg had hatched, only now he and Arya were leaning against the smooth wall, close to the mouth of the cave, partaking of the delicious elven waybread of which Arya knew the secret of making. Eragon was still drowsy from the bonding ceremony, having only woken up about an hour ago. His left arm was still raw and was smarting... there was a wicked silvery pale spiral that originated from his palm and twisted its way all the way to his elbow. Arya called it the Gedwey Ignasia, but she had never seen a Gedwey Ignasia quite like that.
She sat beside him, their hands looped together, her head resting on his shoulder, a small smile playing on her lips and unbridled joy in her eyes.
"Have you decided on a name for her?" Arya murmurred.
"She has refused everything that I've so far suggested!" he replied, glaring at the baby dragon, who looked up at the pair and smirked.
"Eragon," Arya began hesitatingly, "why do all the dragons bow to you? Except the matriarch and the babies of course?"
Eragon understood the background of her question...Elves, despite having gone to war with the dragons, repected and revered the dragons a lot. To them, and thus to Arya, the great dragons bowing to a mortal, even if he or she was the Dovahkiin, was inconceivable.
"What do you know of the differences between the dov and the dragons?" Eragon asked.
She shrugged, "nothing more from the obvious- the dov do not have forelegs- or rather their forelegs and wings are fused into one."
Eragon shook his head, "no, that difference is the result of evolution over the eons. The very first dragons were physically the exact replica of the dov... No, the difference is far more fundamental. Simply put, the dragons are our descendants. We, the dov were created by Akatosh and Kynareth to guard Nirn- to aid, protect and guide the races of Alagaesia. That is why Alduin and to an extent, Paarthunax are called the Firstborn of Akatosh. The dragons were born as a result of mating between the dov... they are our descendants. Now, there are very few female dov left... eventually the dragons had children of their own, since the number of the dov has never increased. With each successive generation, our differences became sharper, more pronounced."
He took a deep breath, before continuing, happy to see that Arya was well and truly engrossed, "with me so far? Good, now to us dov, shouting comes naturally- we can create shouts with the right intent, emotions and words. The dragons are not nearly as versatile sa us- they can use only a few shouts and only under great duress can they use the othes...
Even more fundamental is our immortality- the dov are truly immortal- a dovah cannot be killed unless it is explicitly at the hands of another dovah. If their body is felled by some mishap, the soul travels to the Halls of our Father, Akatosh, awaiting a recall to Nirn. The dov remember who and what they were.. except in the case of the Dovahkiin- I do not know who I was in my past birth. For the dragons, on the other hand, their souls pass on to the Aetherius on their death."
Arya was completely enraptured by what Eragon was saying, never before had anybody really explained to her the gap between the dragons and the dov.
"To all dragons and dov," Eragon continued, "I am, above all, their kin, a dovah trapped in a mortal bpdy, yes, but a dovah nonetheless... I can out shout any dragon that lives here on anywhere in Alagaesia... My shout is stronger than Paarthunax's and perhaps in time the dov will recognise the supremacy of my thu'um."
Arya nodded, a faraway look in her eyes, "Why isn't this common knowledge? To most people, even the elves, there is no difference between the dov and the dragons."
"Especially to the elves, Arya, especially to the elves." Eragon muttered.
"What do you mean?"
"The source of all scholarly works on the dragons are the elves... they are prejudiced against the dov." Arya made to interrupt but Eragon pacified her by wrapping his arm around her waist, "Hear me out."
"Why was the Dragon Rider Order established?" he asked.
"It was established as a pact between the elves and the dragons to maintain peace after Eragon the First and Bid'daum bonded at the end of the Dragon-Elf war."
Eragon nodded. "That is the widely accepted story. That bonding was and still is remarkable and nothing sort of a miracle. But remember that pact was between the elves and the dragons.. the dov were never party to it. Going back to the establishment of the Septim dynasty... the elves had joined Tiber Septim in the war against the Aldmer...But at the same time they were alarmed at the strength and power of the Dovahkiin..and more importantly of the Human-Dragon alliance forged by the Septims. Ever since then the elves have searched for a means to even the scales... the Dragon Rider order was a means to achieve that goal. That was the main reason why your grandmother, Queen Dellanir was furious when Anurin decided to make the Order independent and include Humans in the Dragon Rider pact. Anyway, when the Elves first studied the dragons after the end of the war, they learnt just how close to defeat they had been when Bid'daum hatched for my namesake. The dov were yet to intervene and the dragons, prideful that they were, hadn't invoked the alliance with the Septim Empire. But they were furious enough to do so, almost. Had that happened, the Elves would have lost.
This naturally came as a great shock to the first Elven dragon-scholars and it was decided that the existence of the dov and the alliance between the Dovah Nor and the Empire be hidden from the populace. Simple propaganda. We never sought to correct that measure... the dov and their power remained a secret to most while the dragons, our descendants received the respect they deserve."
Arya had listened to his words quite carefullly and she raised her head off his shoulders, a distant look in her eyes. For a moment, Eragon thought that he had offended her and that she would distance herself from him, but she remained next to him, even allowed his hand to rest at her waist.
"Why didn't the dov oppose the pact?"
"Why should we? We are different from the dragons, we have a sworn duty to protect Alagaesia and its people, irrespective of race. The dragons aren't bound by any such oath. This is also why the dov didn't intervene in the Elf-Dragon war. The Dragon Rider pact would bring about an end to the war and bring the elves into the fold. So effectively, there would be an Elf-Human-Dragon alliance to keep the peace."
Arya nodded, she finally understood. "So that's why Anurin broke off from the Elven Throne and included humans in the pact."
Eragon nodded, "When Anurin became lead rider and learned of the histories... he came straight to Paarthunax and apologised for what he felt was rude behaviour on the part of the elves. He was given the Wuth Gein's blessings. I, personally have never felt wronged by the Elves... and certainly not by your grandmother. Queen Dellanir did what she felt was best for her people and that is something that I deeply respect."
Arya's face cleared and she smiled at him. Eragon pushed on, "Arya, I trust you as much as I trust Paarthunax and you are far more important to me than that old dovah. I will keep no secrets from you except those required by my duties as Dovahkiin. What I'm trying to say is that I hope you understand that nothing, nothing will come between us, not the history between our people nor the young one currently crawling up by back."
She smiled brightly, her eyes liting up and making her look more beautiful than ever. Eragon leaned in for a soft kiss and she met him halfway, just as the dragonling crawled over to lie down on their laps, her head and shoulders in Eragon's and the other half in Arya's. She looked up at Eragon and showed him the image of his and Arya kissing alongwith an intense feeling of curiosity. The dragon was wondering about the kiss.
Eragon laughed aloud, startling both of his female companions. Arya looked at him quizically but he shook his head, indicating that it was nothing. To the baby dragon, he showed her the entirety of the time that he and Arya had been together... all of their memories baring none. He knew that she was studying them very cloesly and once the memory stream ended, she looked at Arya, glaring at her whike Arya returned her gaze with a bemused smile.
After a few moments, the dragon nodded and in a proud, snobbish voice proclaimed, "she'll do."
Eragon, once again was laughing, his sides shaking with mirth as he snuggled closer to Arya, wrapping his arm around her. Arya rested her head on his shoulders, her hand caressing the baby's sapphire blue scales gently.
That's it! Saphira! That sounds like a good name, no? He asked of his bonded partner.
Eragon, she whispered back.
"Saphira" Eragon said out loud and the dragon hummed, drifting into sleep.
29th September, 1916 T.E
Skyborn Altar
"I thank you Dovahkiin for being the reason for young Saphira's hatching.. We are all grateful to you," Akorah, the proud matriarch bowed.
Eragon reached forward and rested his hands on her nuzzle... "Saphira and I are now bound in heart, mind and soul.. for life. That makes you all family. You are most welcome at High Hrothgar and Whiterun."
The great mother smiled as did the other dragons gathered around them. Then with a great roaring spire of blistering flames, the dragons bid adieu to the party of Vervada, Iormungr, Ahiraj and the two "two-legs".
Eragon and Arya, along with the two new parents, with Ahiraj as security, had decided to fly straight to High Hrothgar where they would stay for a year, helping young Saphira grow up. The parents were very reluctant to let go of their daughter for she had been conceived with the intention of being wild. Eragon understood and since he wasn't officially a rider, he decided that Iormungr and Vervada would not be separated from their daughter. A scrying spell later and Eragon got his idea veted by both Paarthunax and Arngeir. Unfortunately this meant that he and Arya would have to leave their horses behind in Greymoor fort; they would have to collect them later, he supposed.
A more pressing concern was the situation between the Jarls Igrod and Baalgruuf. Thankfully Ahiraj had offered to fly them to the ancient citadel... Once Paathunax and Arngeir were brought upto speed about the new developments, Eragon decided to immediately head back to Windhelm- leaving Saphira in the care of her parents.
He knew that the first few weeks were extremely essential for a dragon and his/her rider, but Eragon felt it impossible to let the situtaion fester any longer... he had strong gut feeling that his presence in Windhelm would be of momentous importance. That being said, Eragon wanted to minimize the tome he and Saphira would spend apart. She had become very dear to his heart in the week since her hatching and he craved for her presence. So, it was with a heavy heart and great reluctance that Eragon left behind young Saphira and flew to Windhelm with Arya.
They arrived in Windhelm close to sunset on the 6th of November. Winterhold was the oldest city in Skyrim, established by Ysgrammor himself and served as the seat of his dynasty.. it was once, capital of Skyrim... Nestled in the Velothi mountains that lined the forested borders of the forests of Du Weldervarden and connected via Lake Yorgrim to the Elven city of Avallone and thus to the Sea of Ghosts, it was an important trade route and was thus, very well maintained and rich.
A cold breeze flew in from the North as Ahiraj descended to land in the stone courtyard of the Palace of Kings...the city's guards immeditately surrounded them, but their weapons remained sheathed.
"Identify yourselves!" the lead guard shouted at them.
Eragon calmly descended from Ahiraj's back, jumping the thirty odd feet down, his knees buckling slightly under the weight of his armor. Arya followed him, landing with perfect grace and poise.
"I am Eragon Bloodborne, Thane of Whiterun and this is Arya of the Blades, our mighty friend is Ahiraj, the patriarch of Skyborn Altar. We seek an audience with Jarl Baalgruuf" Eragon said politely.
The guard nodded and the men dismissed, relieved that they didn't have to fight a dragon. "Welcome to Windhelm, I'll take you to the Jarl...eh...or should I ask the Jarl to come out for your sake, Ahiraj?"
The dragon in question smiled at the guard's thoughtfulness, "Nid. That won't be necessary. I came here as escort to my friends... If you'll let me, I am perfectly content to rest here in this large courtyard while you two legs do what two legs do."
The guard nodded and turned about with a gesture for Arya and Eragon to follow, but then he paused midstep as he spotted the Jarl's housecarl approach them. Eragon and Arya also noticed her, it was hard not to... tall, wearing light padded leather armor, with a two handed sabre slung across her back, and a curved dagger at her waist... the housecarl presented a striking image. She had long golden locks tied in a plait that reached her mid-back, grey storm eyes that observed everyone with a sharpness borne by years of experience and two pointy ears at either side of her head. Her face was beautiful... sharp features that were typical elfin but for the long scar that ran above and beneath her right eye in a vertical slit, seven or so inches long. The scar, Eragon could tell was decades old, its color almost as fair as her fair skin and yet she had made no effort to hide it, bearing it as a mark of honor.
"Greetings Eragon Bloodborne and Ahiraj and," she paused, her eyes going wide as she took in Arya, her eyes taking in Arya's face and her eyes..
"I did not expect to see you here, travelling in the company of a dragon and the Thane of Whiterun, Princess Arya." Eragon understood enough of the Ancient Language to get what was said.
Arya eyes widened but she remained quite, glaring at the elf-maiden.
"Irileth", Eragon growled, "can we do this inside?"
She looked at him and nodded, "of course, forgive me, I was taken aback by old memories."
Turning to the guard, she said, "bring out the best roasted elk and two pitchers of the best ale for Lord Ahiraj and ask that fool of a bard to come here. Jarl Baalgruuf has declared a feast in honor of our guests!"
The gathered crowd, who had come to see the Patriarch of Skyborn Altar, cheered, expressing their approval of the Jarl's idea with great enthusiasm.
Eragon raised a single eyebrow at Irileth who smirked at him and led them both into the keep.
Irileth led the pair straight to the main hall where the jarl awaited them. Eragon had never before seen the Jarl of Windhelm, having known him only by reputation. The jarl was known to be a veteran of the Legion of the Northern Province, a contempory of his uncle; and it showed in his bearing and posture . The jarl stood facing them, his back straight, shoulders squared and legs slightly apart with the hands crossed behind his back; a sword at his waist and comfortable woollen clothes on his well-maintained frame. The only thing that marked him as a jarl was the rich cloak that hung from his shoulders- dyed deep blue with soft white wool trimmings and a silver crown resting upon his brow.
He walked towards Eragon and grasped his forearm in a warrior's grip, smiling pleasantly, "welcome Eragon Bloodborne, Thane of Whiterun, long have I wished to meet the hero of Greenspring Hollow!"
Eragon smiled, "greetings Jarl Baalgruuf, Uncle Garrow has spoken often and fondly of your time in the Legions."
Turning to Arya, Baalgruuf accorded her the same courtesy: that of a fellow warrior, "I can see from your armor and your ring that you're a Blade, my lady, but I confess that I do not know your name."
Arya smiled before bowing her head slightly, "Arya, Jarl Baalgruuf."
The Jarl invited them for supper and they accompanied him to the great table where several other prominent men and women of the city were sitting... introductions were made before the meal started.
'What was that between you and Irileth?' Eragon asked Arya, who was sitting beside him.
'She recognised me! You should've told me that she was here!' she said harshly, causing him to wince. 'Sorry, it is just that I don't want my mother to know where I am.'
'Irileth is a half-elf... I never thought that she would cause problems... I've heard that she and Jarl Baalgruuf met when the latter was still in the legions. A quick friendship arose... strengthened by years of combat and service. It never even registered in my mind. I am sorry... I will try to request the jarl to prevent her from informing your mother.'
Arya nodded.
Eragon turned to focus on the various conversations floating around the table, in an effort to keep his mind off Saphira. It felt as if there was a hole in his heart... a missing peace... a void that wouldn't be filled. Arya noticed his morose mood and reached out to take his hand, pulling it into her lap.
Eragon almost jumped out of his seat at that and wanted to pull back his hand, worried that the others might notice something when a powerfully loud roar reverberated through the floor... forcing many to close their ears and cry out in pain.
Eragon jumped to his feet, as did Arya and Irileth. The doors suddenly burst open and a guard came running in, shouting at the top his voice... "DRAGON! WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!"
Hearing this, Eragon dashed for his sword and bow and ran outside, Arya, Irileth and the Jarl hot on his heels. The jarl was shouting orders to bring up reinforcements.
Outside, it was utter chaos, some of the guards were shepherding the townspeople into cover, others were busy trying to put out some of the fires and yet others were firing arrows into the night sky... screams and moan filled the air and above, two massive dragons were fighting it out... bellowing flames at each other. Fires burned brightly, refusing to be put out, a wooden house to the left of the courtyard disintegrated, sparks and flames rising from within as its beams were turned to ash by dragonfire. A bell was tolling somewhere, its repetetive gongs a warning to all others.
"GUARDS!" Irileth shouted, "GET THE PEOPLE INSIDE THE KEEP!" The guards around her obeyed her orders and rushed ahead to draw the poeple into the safety of the stone walls.
Eragon meanwhile was running hard towards the citygates, hoping to draw the attacking dragon away from the city. The plan wasn't working.. the dragon was too focused on Ahiraj. He skidded to a stop, brought his bow out and took aim... a difficult task, the dragons were flying around, shouting at each other, great big spires of flames erupting across the night sky, the winds from their passing buffeted Eragon and he was able to spot the hostile dragon in front, Ahiraj chasing him. It was a reddish brown drag...no it was a dovah! There were no forelegs! He aimed ahead of the dovah, aiming for where he would be and released the string, the dragonbone bow sang in joy as the steel arrow whistled straight and true, burrying itself in the dovah's side.
"I AM DOVAHKIIN! FACE ME, DOVAH, IF YOU DARE!" Eragon roared at the top of his voice.
He had the dovah's attention for he hovered in the air, looking at him with a glint in his red eyes.
"I AM SAHLOKNIR, DOVAHKIIN... ALDUIN THURI WILL REJOICE AT YOUR DEATH!"
Eragon didn't wait for the now identified sahloknir to come after him, he turned and ran outside the city gates
Arya was wondering if Eragon had a deathwish, there were better ways to claim a dragon's attention than pulling rank! She hastily rushed after him, an arrow nocked, ready to be released.
Outside, the two flying creatures were engaged in a dogfight, circling each other and vomitting fire... Eragon stood below them, releasing well aimed arrow after arrow... Guards were making their way to the gates, having secured the people, but they were quite clearly terrified.
Suddenly the dovah disengaged from Ahiraj and dived straight towards Eragon, its maw open, red flames flickering within; Arya screamed at Eragon to move and prepared a spell to forcibly move him towards her, but what happened next would shock all who witnessed it into silence.
Eragon saw sahloknir heading towards him, diving at great speed, the dovah opened its maw to release a fireball at him. Eragon let the bow fall from his hand and drew his sword...he braced himself for what he was about to do... suddenly the dovah released his fireball and it hurtled towards the ground... at the very same time, or perhaps a moment before, Eragon shouted, "WULD NAH KEST!". The snow on the ground erupted as Eragon soared upwards at great speed... his thu'um powering him through the flames, only to emerge above the dovah who was at the moment banking to the left... all this happened in fractions of a moment.. time seemed to stop for Eragon as he hung there, at the apex of his vertical motion and then everything sped up... he twisted his body as he began to fall and with a great push, he buried his sword in sahloknir's flank. The dovah roared and did his utmost to shake him off, only for the sword to dig deeper into his flesh. Eragon held onto the thorns on the dovah's back with one hand and with the other, he pulled the sword out and stabbed the left wing, cutting through the delicate membrane easily... the dovah lurched to the left and suddenly, they were fallling through the sky... Eragon braced his knees and tensed his body to jump off just before the dragon crashed... He fell for thirty feet and landed in dense snow, rolling forward to lessen the blow...
Groaning, he got up at the same time as sahloknir did... his left forearm-wing curled close to his body... Wearily the two dov circled each other... keenly watching the other... Eragon didn't know this but his eyes were glowing blue.. his iris had turned into slits...very draconic characteristics.
"I underestimated you, Dovahkiin. Maybe you're worthy of your title..." the larger dovah said, before lunging forward, his maw open, long ivory teeth glinting in the moonlight.
Eragon turned into the attack, the large head passing a feet in front of him... he immediately brought down his sword on the exposed neck in a powerful two handed chop... breaking through the hard scales and cutting through strong corded muscles. Hot blood splashed on him, scalding his flesh wherever it was exposed. Raoaring in agony, sahloknir's head thrashed around, hitting him and sending him into the snow seven feet ahead.
Eragon rolled backwards on landing and stood up with his sword drawn and then, taking a deep breath, he let loose a torrent of hot flames, "YOL TUUR SHUL!"
As the firestorn raced forward to envelop the dovah, Eragon followed it running up at the dovah... the flames had barely any effect, as he predicted.. dragonscales were after all, almost fireproof; but they served one important purpose... they had blinded sahloknir. He jumped, grabbed Sahloknir's horns and swung himself to stand atop his head. Raising his sword, eragon plunged it deep at the base of the dovah's skull, kiling him instantly.
The dovah gave a last roar of agony before collapsing.
Eragon stepped down wearily, stumbling across the snowdrifts to where a crowd stood aghast at what they had seen. Arya ran to him immediately, lending him her shoulders as support; he looked at her and there were tears welling up in her eyes.
'You idiot! Don't ever scare me like that, ever again!'
'Nice to see you too.' he quipped, a small smile gracing his face.
Several gasps were uttered by the crowd and Eragon turned towards the giant corpse of the dovah; he knew what was about to happen, having witnessed it several times in his visions.
The dovah's body was glowing, its scales and flesh disintegrated as a fire consumed it from within... and then with a roar, beautiful red and blue lights rushed out towards Eragon, enveloping his body, a cacophony of sounds overwhelmed his senses as the dovah's soul was absorbed by is own. Strength rushed back into his arms and legs, healing his injuries and driving away his exhaustion.
And then the light show faded away, the skeleton of the dovah, the only existence of the entire event ever occuring. Eragon walked upto the skeleton and placing his hand on the skull, whispered, "you fought well, brother."
A muffled thud and a shudder of the land itself announced the landing of Ahiraj and Eragon turned around. Ahiraj bowed low, his large head almost touching the ground.
"Dovahkiin, you have my allegiance." the dragon said aloud. The gathered crowd also knelt, Baalgruuf and Irileth at the very front, " All hail the DRAGONBORN!" they all cheered.
Translations of Dovahzul phrases and words used in this chapter:
Thu'um- the projection of energy in a particular manner by using words in Dovahzul- english equivalent is shout.
THURI - master
Dovah Nor- dragon nation
Wuth Gein- Old one, an alias of Paarthunax.
Nid- No
SAHLOKNIR - Phantom-Sky-Hunt
WULD NA KEST- WHIRLWIND FURY TEMPEST- WHIRLWING SPRINT shout: which accelerates the speaker through space and time instantaneously
YOL TUUR SHUL- FIRE INFERNO SUN- FIRE BREATH shout which releases a powerful inferno inferno.