Chapter 10 – The Varden

Eragon was shocked to say the least, he didn't know what to expect when he arrived to the Varden but seeing as he was traveling with the Ambassador to the elves and Brom who was one of their founders he hadn't expected such an aggressive welcome. The guards where pointing spears and swords at them as if they were the enemy. Everyone was quiet until a dark skinned man with an air of authority stepped forward.

"Ambassador, forgive me for such a welcome, but last I heard, you had been captured by the Dark King and were held I Gil'ead." Eragon saw Arya flinch slightly at the mention of Gil'ead and he subconsciously moved a little bit closer to her. Even with the reminder Arya's tone of voice managed to sound with even more authority that the man who had spoken to them.

"Ajihad, that is true, but before I was captured I managed to send the dragon egg away. Eragon found it and it hatched for him and he along with Brom rescued me from the prison." She repeated the same thing in the Ancient Language and the magicians that accompanied Ajihad confirmed that she was telling the truth.

"Alright" he said "I trust you, but I will need my magicians to search the minds of your companions to make sure that they are not spies" Eragon mentally cursed if they did that they would find out that Eragon was a werewolf, and they may be able to let him go seeing as he was the only Dragon Rider against the Dark King, but that was not the case with the rest of his pack. Brom who had been silent during Arya's exchange with Ajihad had decided to speak up on their behalf.

"Ajihad, as founder of the Varden I vouch for these people" he said with conviction.

"I understand that Brom but still—"

"I as the Elven Ambassador also vouch for them, and any attempt to read their minds will result in the elves' relationship with the Varden to end" Eragon was pleasantly shocked that Arya would go that far to protect his secret but at the same time he was worried that Ajihad, whom he now assumed was the leader of the Varden, wouldn't agree to let them pass, and as time moved on and everything was quiet he was starting to panic. Thankfully it seemed Ajihad had agreed to let them through.

"Fine, I'll welcome them to the Varden, but they will have to swear that they are not spies and that they will not harm the Varden in the Ancient Language." He said "And on this I will not change my mind."

"We will agree on this" Said Jonathan as he spoke for the first time since he had crossed the doors to the Varden. One by one Eragon and his pack said the words on the Ancient Language, once they were done and their magicians confirmed it the soldiers lowered their weapons.

"Now, follow me to my study, we have much to talk about" They followed him through passageways until they arrived at another set of doors, this ones were even more majestic as they were made out of pure gold. As they opened sunlight streamed in, when the doors opened completely he saw the most amazing sight. I was an open space that stretched on for miles and in the middle of the ceiling was a gaping whole, this made him realize that Farthen Dûr was not a mountain but a dormant volcano. And under the hole was the most spectacular sight he had ever seen; a city that stretched high off of the ground being showered by the light streaming on from the ceiling. The city was shaped as a cone and as they got closer he saw that at the gates were two statues made out of solid gold depicting two griffins.

"Welcome to Tronjheim, city of Dwarves" said Ajihad as the massive doors rumbled open, they entered the city and once again was surprised by the amount of riches he saw everywhere he looked. Especially the ceiling, which was capped by a red gem about sixty feet in diameter and carved to resemble a rose in full bloom.

"That is the Star Sapphire, its the pride and joy of the dwarves" commented Arya as they made their way to Ajihad's study. Once there they each took a seat while Ajihad sat behind his desk. He started to look around towards his pack as Saphira put her head through a window in order to participate in the meeting.

"So which one of you is the Dragon Rider?" asked Ajihad looking at Jonathan and Michael. Eragon understood why he did it, both Jonathan and Michael had an air of strength and power and seemed to be veteran warriors, and even though Eragon was certainly strong he lacked the experience.

"That would be me," He said not in the least embarrassed. Ajihad had an apologetic face and Eragon thought that if he could he would be blushing.

"I'm sorry" he said "its just that when everyone spoke about the dragon rider… well we expected someone—"

"Better" interrupted Eragon not willing to hear about how he wasn't living up to expectations "Its ok, I understand"

Silence reigned across the study for a moment before Ajihad spoke again "So, why don't you tell me your story, how did you get here?" and so Eragon proceeded to tell the story about how they left Carvahall, he and Brom had decided to say that he had left his town with his pack. He continued, Brom, Arya and Saphira filling in where his memory failed.

"Well" said Ajihad as he finished retelling his story "I think that is everything for now but we'll keep talking during the coming weeks, I'll announce that the Dragon Rider has joined us tomorrow although, I think pretty much everyone already knows. Brom, Arya, your rooms will be ready for your use. I imagine that Eragon will stay in the dragon hold with Saphira, and I'll have rooms prepared for your companions"

"Ajihad, I will stay in the Dragon Hold with Eragon and Saphira, so you don't have to prepare a room for me" Arya said as everyone was getting up to leave the study. As Brom and his pack were already used to Arya's codependence of Eragon, they weren't surprised, and so they continued to get up and make their way out of the door. On the other hand as they emptied the study Eragon looked back to find a completely shocked Ajihad.

Brom bade them goodbye and went to his room, servants came to guide his pack towards their respective rooms while Eragon and Arya climbed onto Saphira so she could fly them to the dragon hold. The floor of the dragon hold was actually the Star Sapphire; the walls were adorned with caves of all sizes made for dragons the size of a small horse to fully-grown dragons. Saphira went into the one that was prepared for them and Eragon was marvelled at the amount of riches that the room displayed, the walls were adorned with precious gems and the furniture was lined with metal and silver.

"You can use the bathroom to change, I'll change out here," he said to Arya. She agreed and headed to the bathroom in order to change, leaving Eragon to do the same. He put on some felt pants and left his chest bare, he then climbed onto the cool bed. The shifting of the bed announced that Arya had climbed onto it and his body automatically went to hug her close to him. She set her head in the crook of his neck and seconds later they were both asleep.